December 3, 2015
Student Council Christmas Projects
This holiday season, St. Theresa Student Council will be sponsoring 2 projects.
  • MITTEN TREE:  November 30 to December 11 we ask students to bring in NEW mittens, scarves, socks gloves, hats, ear muffs, etc., sizes infants to adults, to decorate our Christmas tree in the school lobby.  These items will be put in the Christmas baskets  and also given to PHD and other local shelters.
  • CHRISTMAS BASKETS:  We will again be helping fill Christmas baskets for seniors and the needy of our parish.  There are decorated boxes in every classroom. Each class will be assigned one type of food item to bring. (See the green flyer sent home with student.) The boxes will be collected on December 4.
Thank you for being generous to help those in need.
Movie Night

Thank you for all the volunteers for Movie Night.  Movie Night was a huge successful and fun night. Thank you for all who wore costumes and helped make the night exciting!  Thank you to everyone that came!  

As always, if you have a movie to suggest or would like to volunteer for the next movie night, please send a note to Mary at [email protected].  

We are also looking for ideas for a fun activity, appropriate for Movie Night. 

The next movie night will be the Friday before Spring Break!

Bakers Needed!!

Calling all bakers! Getting a head start on your holiday baking? Bake some extra goodies for the STS Bake Sale happening December 12th & 13th after all Masses. Please drop off your festively-wrapped baked goods in the school office on Friday, December 11th, or in the gathering space before any Mass that weekend. Make sure to stop by the Bake Sale to pick up a yummy treat or to take a chance at the "All I Want for Christmas" raffle basket. All proceeds will benefit the STS Parents Association. For any questions, please contact Tina Serpico at [email protected]

 
Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas Story Time with Santa
All pre-school, kindergarten and first grade students are invited to join Santa and his elves on Thursday, December 10th at 6:30-7:30 pm in the Lower Dolan. The children can wear their comfy pajamas while enjoying a Christmas story and a sing along!  Milk and cookies will be served to all the good little boys and girls. Please click here for Santa's registration form to attend this festive event. 
Parents' Association Meeting New Date - Wednesday, December 9 at 8 am
Parents' Association meeting rescheduled - the Parents' Association meeting scheduled for Wednesday December 9 @ 8:00 am.  Please mark your calendars and join us as we start planning for Catholic Schools week.


Christmas Eve Mass & Pageant
You are invited to join St. Theresa Parish is celebrating the birth of Jesus at the 3:00pm Mass on Christmas Eve (Thursday, December 24, 2015). 
Students are invited to sing in the Children's Christmas Choir or participate in reenacting the Christmas Story.
 
The Children's Choir is open for students in 2nd grade - 8th grade and has 4 rehearsals (Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 14, and Dec 21). 

The pageant is open to students in Kindergarten - 2nd grade and has 3 rehearsals (Dec 7, Dec 14, and Dec 21). 

If you are interested in participating, please complete and submit the form no later than Tuesday, November 24. 

If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Vogt at [email protected] or 847-359-2846.
Upcoming Events  

Saturday, December 5
D211 Placement Exam

Monday, December 7
Hour of Code Week!
Santa's Secret Shop

Tuesday, December 8
Jubilee Year of Mercy Begins!
Hour of Code Week!
Santa's Secret Shop

All School Mass - Feast of the Immaculate Conception 8 am

Wednesday, December 9
Hour of Code Week!
Santa's Secret Shop

Hot Dog Day!

2nd Grade First Reconciliation 6pm 

Thursday, December 10
Hour of Code Week!
Santa's Secret Shop

Story Time with Santa 6 pm

Friday, December 11
Hour of Code Week!
Santa's Secret Shop

Saturday, December 12
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Sunday, December 13
Barnes & Noble Book and Tech Fair 11-2

School Start Times


For K (All Day) - 8th
7:20 AM 1st bell / drop off begins
7:35 AM 2nd bell
7:40 AM Tardy bell

Monday through Thursday 2:20 PM Dismissal

Friday 1:30 PM Dismissal

K (Half Day Friends)
7:20 AM 1st bell / drop off begins
7:35 AM 2nd bell
7:40 AM Tardy bell

11:15 AM Dismissal

Pre-School
8 AM Start
11 AM Dismiss Half Day Friends
2 PM Dismiss All Day Friends
Have an item you want included in the newsletter? 
Please send it to [email protected]! 
Content needed by 5pm Tuesday for inclusion in the current week's newsletter.

If you take pictures at school activities throughout the year, please send them to  [email protected]. Content needed by 9am Monday for inclusion in the following weekend's bulletin.

If you have content for the STS website, please send to   [email protected].
Important Links and Contacts


Links:
St. Theresa School Website
St. Theresa Parish Website 

St. Theresa Parish Bulletins 

Office for the Protection of Children and Youth 

Hot-Lunch-Online-Orders  

Manna Order Form 



EMail Addresses:

Fr. Tim, Pastor
[email protected] 

 

Miss Keenley, Principal
[email protected]

Mrs. Zielinski, Admin. Assistant/Tuition Manager
[email protected] 

  
Terri Kolbus, Admissions Director

Parents Association


Phone Numbers: 

School      847-359-1820
Absence   847-359-1820 x299
Nurse      847-359-1820 x212 

 

On to Advent!

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving.  Now we're back and Advent is upon us.  In our Church, the liturgical year has ended and we anxiously await the coming of the Christ child on Christmas Day.   In our family here at school we are living our Advent theme, "the world needs a Stable influence."  In class we identified one way in which we are going to try to be kinder and gentler to others each day.  This small sacrifice of going out of our way for another, speaking kindly, and caring for each other helps us grow closer to Our Lord and prepare our hearts for Christmas.   I would love to hear how you are living Advent in your homes - are there any special traditions you have that help you keep Christmas focused on the Baby Jesus?  Please send me your traditions - with a picture if possible - so I can share them on our video monitor!  

Also - if anyone is in need of Advent candles, I have some for you, courtesy of a generous donor.  Please also note our new Nativity Scene at the main entrance, also the wonderful gift of a generous donor!

To start your Advent and the Jubilee Year of Mercy out with a bang, please join us for Mass next Tuesday, December 8, as we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  

As Christmas approaches, so does our Chicago
 weather!  Just a few reminders about our inclement weather procedures:

1)      As the snow and ice mound, it is more important than ever to follow the drop off and pick up procedures.  In the morning, please be sure you are going slowly, driving through the Dolan lot to drop off in the morning, pulling all the way up before exiting the car, and then exiting straight out Freemont.  Please also remember to stay in line and not pull around cars in the drop off line.

2)      If driving is challenging in the morning due to weather, we will automatically delay attendance.  You do not need to rush; drive safely.

3)      We do not close because of cold weather.  If District 15 closes, we will be open but there will not be bus service and you should follow the procedures for a Drive Day.

4)      If we have to close because of snow you will be notified via SchoolRush - app, email, text, and voice by no later than 5:30 a.m.  We will also post on the Emergency Closing System (www.emergencyclosing.com)

Please also be sure your children are dressed properly - coats, hats, gloves, etc. because we go outside for recess.  As futile as the attempt may be, please encourage your middle schooler to wear an actual coat to school.

As the Christmas season approaches, please keep a careful watch on the school calendar as there is a lot going on!  Some items of note:
  • Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Tuesday, December 8, Mass at 8:00 a.m.
  • Hour of Code Week - December 7-11
  • Santa's Secret Shop - December 7-11
  • Story Time with Santa (PS-1st) - Thursday, December 10 at 6 pm
  • Barnes & Noble Book & Tech Fair - Sunday, December 13 11-2 pm at Deer Park
  • Christmas Concert - Wednesday, December 16 at 6 pm in the gym
  • Advent Prayer Service - Friday, December 18 at 12:30 pm, dismissal for Christmas following service
Please also check your child's individual calendar in SchoolRush for specific classroom events.

Thank you to Mrs. Adams and all the parents who helped make our PHD walk last Tuesday such a great success this year.   We lucked out with a beautiful day for the walk and you all were so generous with your donations!  In total we collected: 301 diapers, 130 wipes, 18 formula cans, 485 jars of baby food, 9 coats, 192 lotion/shampoo/baby bath, 14 blankets, 15 bibs, 61 boxes of cereal, 65 baby accessories, 265 clothes, 96 bottles,  10 books, 45 pacifiers, 3 crib sheets, 24 spoons, and 135 sippy cups.

The Cub Scouts recently held their annual "Rocket Regatta." The boys designed their rockets then competed for the best design and the fastest rocket.  They had a great time racing the rockets on the special course designed just for the Regatta!

On Monday the
 kindergarten held its annual Thanksgiving Pageant complete with costumes, songs, and canoe rowing!  A special thanks to Ms Rosenkranz, Mrs. Healey, and Mrs.
 Johanson for all their hard work.   
 Fr. Tim remarked at how impressed he was with all the students were able to memorize - stay tuned for round 2 from kindergarten with our Nativity Pageant on Friday, December 18!

Last Friday the kindergarten-5th graders participated in a presentation by the Palatine Police Department on stranger danger and home
 safety.  Officers Poliquin and Schlee spoke with
 the students about using their heads and
 keeping safe when playing or when home alone.   They also taught them how to recognize a "real" police officer to go to for help.

Last call for Emergency Form updates!!  Please return your updated form ASAP so our list is accurate.  Thank you to all the parents who have updated and returned their forms.  Questions?  Please contact Mrs. Montrie at  [email protected]

Hey Dads - just a reminder that the guys play basketball every Thursday night in the gym.  Interested?  Please contact Mike Marshall at [email protected] or 847-567-2734.
 
In case you're wondering, there are only 11 days of school until Christmas Break...not that I'm counting or anything...

Mary
Mary J. Keenley, Principal
Christmas Fun in Palatine!


 
Special Teacher and Staff Collection 

Traditionally at St. Theresa School, the practice of collecting for Christmas gifts for teachers has become very popular. Just as we are blessed with the care and concern of our "Regular Teachers", we also want to show appreciation to our "Special Teachers and Staff", including music, P.E., library, computer, and office staff who help our school in countless ways everyday.

If your family is interested in making a contribution to the "Specials" fund, please send whatever amount you feel is appropriate in an envelope to Tina Serpico c/o Jake, Room 116, by Wednesday, December 16th. Cash is preferred; otherwise, please make checks payable to Tina Serpico.

If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call. Thank you.

Tina Serpico 847-496-7797 or [email protected]

Sheila Byrne 847-776-0435 or [email protected]
High School Corner 

Saint Viator Family Mass and Visit with Santa is 
Sunday, December 13, 2015. Mass at 10 am in the Alumni Memorial Chapel and will be followed  by refreshments and a visit with Santa!!!

Santa will be in Querbes Hall. Come celebrate with us!
Family Corner
 
Please remember in your prayers:

Mrs. Soby's grandmother-in-law who passed away at age 93.

The family of Jurica Harris, an 18 year old friend of St. Theresa parish, who passed away 

Andrew Kelleher, uncle of Rachel Sutherland, who is ill in the hospital

Dolores Smith grandmother of the Smith Family (Kelly '00 and Jay '01) as she enters hospice care.

Ann Anaya, grandmother of Isabelle and Zoe Anaya, as she undergoes treatment for her third round of cancer 
 
The Port Louis family and Theo's grandmother

The Murzyn family, Aunt and Uncle to The Miller family. 

Kylene & Bridget Flood's Aunt Julie who is undergoing cancer treatment for merkel cell cancer.
 
Please pray for the families of STS, particularly those who have personal struggles they are experiencing and those who are going through trying times.
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