December 10, 2015
 
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]

Change for Change
December's Change for Change is this Friday - proceeds are going to Ronald McDonald House. 

Last month's collection for Alzheimer's Awareness will go towards Palatine Senior Center Adults Services.  The Caring Hearts Adult Day Services is an interactive social group for seniors with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease or dementia.  If you are caring for someone with dementia and think your loved one may benefit, contact them for more information.
Mad Science
The next session of mad science is now open for registration. Please click here for more information.
Photo's Dine and Share
Thank you to all who supported our Photo's Dine and Share.  We raised a total of $301.22 for St. Theresa School!

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  

Friday, December 11
Hour of Code Week!
Santa's Secret Shop
Change for Change for Ronald McDonald House

Saturday, December 12
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

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

Bake Sales After all Masses!!

Tuesday, December 15
NO All School Mass (change from calendar)

Wednesday, December 16
Christmas Concert 6 pm

Friday, December 18
Preschool Christmas Program 9:00 in church
Advent Prayer Service 12:30 pm in church
 
December 19-January 4
No School - Christmas Break!
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]
Christmas Fun in Palatine!


 

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 

 

A Wonderful Feast and the Start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy!
This week was a glorious one - we entered the second week of Advent with the great feast of the Immaculate Conception and the opening of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.  What a great opportunity for us to ask God for his mercy on us and to live mercy with others.  Fr. Ron told us at Mass, "Mary brought Jesus to the world as His mother...we bring Jesus to the world as His disciples!"  The problems of the world may seem insurmountable, but we can begin the change right here where we are, bringing the gift of God's love and mercy to others.  And when the person looks at us in surprise because we were so caring, they will ask, "Where did that come from?"  And we can tell them, "It came from Jesus, the Lord of Mercy...I just delivered His gift to you for Him!"

A special congratulations to our 2nd graders felt Our Lord's mercy in a special way when they made their first Reconciliation on Wednesday evening.  What a great joy to come to Christmas with a pure heart and soul!
 
Thank you to all who supported our Photo's Dine and Share!  We raised a total of $301.22 for St. Theresa School!  The next sharing activity is the Barnes & Noble Tech Fair this Sunday from 11-2 at Deer Park.  Barnes & Noble gives us a percentage of what is sold in the store and the coffee shop during that time along with the tips from the wrapping paper.  Hit 10 am Mass, grab something from the bake sale, then head on over to Barnes & Noble for a fun afternoon of shopping an wrapping!  Hope you can join us!
 
Amid all the Advent celebrations, it is also its Hour of Code Week here at STS!  Students learned how to code and what coding is used for throughout the week. 
Students in grades third through eight will participate in hands-on activities delving into technology across a number of platforms.  Students at St. Theresa have been participating in the "Hour of Code" for the past three years and are constantly learning about new advances in technology during their computer education class and daily classes. Students are eager for this hands on approach and look forward to experiencing each presentation. The goal is for student to develop their knowledge of the various types of technology available and its applicable uses in our daily lives and how these new technologies will enhance their futures.   This experience exposes students to the endless possibilities that can happen with technology.  To learn more about the Hour of Code click on https://code.org/learn
 
In addition to preparing for their first Reconciliation, the 2nd graders held their annual Craft Day in preparation for Christmas students made presents for their parents and enjoyed a fun afternoon.

The 7th graders held
 their annual Tea Party in honor of their unit studying the Boston Tea Party and the Acts that led up to the Revolutionary War.  Students gave presentations on the Stamp Act, Intolerable Acts, and Townsend Acts, offering their interpretations of the injustices laid upon the colonists.
 
In science, the 8th graders are studying atomic theory. They used a web quest to research information about atomic theory and prepared for their lab work.
 
One of the best activities in the school is to be a reader in the classrooms. The 2nd graders found out that even school nurses have favorite Christmas stories!  Do you have one that you would like to share?  Please contact your child's teacher and volunteer to read to the class!
 
This week the parents put on their 2nd annual Santa's Secret Shop.  Students were able to shop for the members of their family and have their gifts all wrapped up and ready to put under the tree.  The 8th graders generously volunteered to buddy up with the preschool to help them do their shopping and wrapping.  The 8th graders had a ball and the preschoolers truly enjoyed being with their "grown up" friends!  A special thanks to Parents Association and all the parents who helped set up and run the shop for the children this week!

Next Wednesday is our wonderful Christmas Concert!  It is going to be a great evening of music and dance by our students.  The kids need to be here by 5:15, the show starts promptly at 6 pm.  It is going to be very crowded so I ask a few favors:  1) if possible, please leave your coats in the car 2) please be mindful of the senior members of our family who need to sit during the concert. 3) please do not block the isles for any reason during the performance and 4) please help put away chairs at the end of the show so the gym is ready for class the next morning.  The show is being video taped and we are taking still photographs - both of which will be available to you.  We are also hosting a "split the pot" raffle to support our Fine Arts Department and selling Blizzards for an after concert treat.  I look forward to seeing everyone at the concert!

Just a reminder about some upcoming dates for the last week of school before we break for Christmas:
  • Christmas Bake Sale - after all Masses on Sunday, December 13
  • Barnes & Noble Book & Tech Fair - Sunday, December 13 from 11-2 pm at Deer Park
  • Christmas Concert - Wednesday, December 16 at 6 pm in the gym (students need to be here by 5:15)
  • Preschool Christmas Program - Friday, December 18 at 9:00 am
  • 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.

Six days to go...!

Mary
Mary J. Keenley, Principal
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!

Saint Viator Entrance Exam will be held on Saturday, January 9th, 2016 at 8am. Students do not need to pre-register but can fill out the paperwork ahead of time which can be found on our website at www.saintviator.com. They should bring a check (made out to Saint Viator) or cash $25 and two #2 pencils. The test will conclude between 11:30 and 12 noon. Please click here for more information. 
Family Corner
 
Please remember in your prayers:

The grandfather of James and Isabella who is in the hospital.

The grandfather of Domenic, Gina, and John who is in the hospital.

Mrs. Spotak's mother who is ill.

Mrs. Trojan's mother-in-law who is ill.

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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