Shamrock Weekly                                                                              Submissions due by Friday
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Weekly Highlights
Students and teachers gather on Monday mornings to pray together and light the Advent Candles.
The fifth graders took part in the Milwaukee County Zoo's Trim-A-Tree event. The classes made animal habitat ornaments in art class that are now being displayed on the fifth grade's very own evergreen tree!
Students from Prince of Peace School came to watch the K5 Nativity Play.  Afterwards the students shared milk and cookies.
Mrs. Albright was a guest speaker in Mrs. Goss's executive skills classes. She motivated the students by sharing how she uses executive skills in her studies at Marquette University.  Cornell notes, flash cards, and examples of her study habits and test taking skills showed the students that executive skills are utilized throughout life.
Volunteer at SJV
Click on the links below to lend a hand to events in our school community.
Secret Santa Shoppe
Many hands are needed to help at the Secret Santa Shoppe.  Click here to select a volunteer shift.

Lunch Servers 
If you would like to help serve hot lunch during the noon hour, see the sign up on Volunteer Spot.

Library Helpers
Click on the links to help be a library helper in a particular classroom.  Library helpers read to the students and help check out books.  The middle school helpers chaperone in the library while the middle students work during their resource time.

Mrs. Andreucci- AM Class
Mrs. Andreucci- PM Class
Kindergarten
Mrs. Klement
Mrs. Williams
Second Grade
Ms. Novy
Mrs. Okruhlica
Ms. Bremer
Mrs. Grzeszczak
Mrs. Scaffidi
Mr. Stemper
Middle School Resource

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December 8, 2015
Greetings!
Attention Middle School Parents,
One of the most important things that we can do for our middle school students is to properly prepare them for high school. In fact, we take pride in that fact that so many of our graduates experience a great deal of success at the high school level. One of the key components to high school readiness is student independence. We teach our students the importance of self-reliance and to be able to complete their school work with a sense of pride and discipline. Sometimes that might mean completing homework that has an assigned due date, other times it might mean completing additional enrichment and support materials to further their comprehension.

The middle school teachers and I compiled a list of assignments and activities that do not have due dates, but will give a better sense of what homework might look like in the middle school. The students will have many assignments, projects, quizzes, and tests with specific due dates. However, there are many enriching activities that will further each student's education that we want parents to be aware of. When your child comes home and states that they have no homework, feel free to consult the following chart:
SCIENCE
  • Review notes and vocabulary words
  • Complete scilinks.org at the end of every section
SOCIAL STUDIES
  • Review and study classroom notes via Google Classroom
  • Practice United States (7th/8th grade) and world geography (6th grade)
  • Read a historical fiction book
ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS
  • Reread the stories from reading class for the week
  • Practice spelling and vocabulary words for the week
  • Read the independent novel for class
  • Complete the "grammar notes" and "about the author" via the online textbook
MATH
  • Complete the "personal math trainers" and watch the videos using the online textbook
  • Complete the practice and challenge sheets provided by Mrs. Blaha
  • Review the homework and lesson quiz pages from the textbook
  • Try writing written explanations of math problems
SPANISH
  • Review class vocabulary words using flashcards
  • Practice speaking in sentences using recently learned vocabulary

RELIGION
  • Participate in service opportunities
  • Review the Bible stories covered in class and their meanings
  • Review and study class notes and vocabulary words
We hope that this gives a clearer picture into the world of homework for a middle school student. As always, please contact any of the middle school teachers for any specific questions. Thank you very much.

Positively SJV,
Principal
All School Liturgy
All-School Liturgy
All are welcome to pray with us at our next All-School Liturgy on Wednesday, December 16.  Mass will be prepared by Mrs. Okruhlica's homeroom. 

Please note there will be no All-School Liturgy on Wednesday, December 9. 
School News
Secret Santa Shoppe-
December 11

HO HO HO!  It's the most wonderful time of the year!  Mark your calendars- SJV's Secret Santa Shoppe returns on Friday, December 11.  This exciting day allows students the chance to shop for family and friends.  K4 thru 5th graders will have an assigned time to shop as a class, and middle school students will go during their lunch or resource time. We will send home envelopes on Wednesday so you can help your child prepare a list and budget!

We need your help!  MANY volunteers are needed to make this exciting event run smoothly.  Use this link to sign up to help at this special holiday event!

K5 Nativity Plays
You are invited to come and see our young students perform their annual nativity play.  Times are as follows:

December 9
KM:  9:30am & 7:00pm
KK:  1:30pm & 6:00pm
Christmas Concert
Monday, December 14 at 1:00pm and 6:00pm
The annual SJV Christmas concert will be held on Monday, December 14 at 1:00pm and 6:30pm in the Activity Center.  Students in K4 through 5th grade, as well as Shamrock choirs, will be performing.  For the evening concert, students should be in their homeroom classes by 6:00pm.  At the end of the evening concert, parents are to pick up their children from the homeroom classes.  Performers should wear their "Sunday Best".  Shamrock Choir students are to wear their Shamrock Choir uniforms.  Parents and students are reminded to remain at the concert throughout the duration of all performances.  Please contact Mrs. Prosser with any questions or concerns.
6th Grade DARE Graduation
The sixth graders will be graduating from the DARE program on Thursday, December 17 at 9:30am in the Church Hall.  Parents are invited to attend this event in support of their children learning to make positive choices.
SJV Community Blog
Christmas is fast approaching and there will be many new smart phones, tablets, computers, and other electronic devices under the tree for teens, tweens and even younger. How do parents strike a balance between giving your child privacy and giving your child protection? Can you do both? Maybe you haven't even thought about it.
The best thing that you can do as a parent is to be informed and do your homework. SJV Principal Dan Demeter offers some advice on how parents can stay connected with kids and their electronics, plus, some resources for further information.  Click here to read the full article.
Save the Date and Pass it On!
Can You Help Shelve Books?
We are excited to have have lots of new books for our students to read!  They have been catalogued and are ready to be shelved.  Whether you have have five minutes or an hour, please stop by!
Traffic Reminders
Especially as we get into the winter months, please comply with the following for pick up and drop off:
  • PLEASE only make right-hand turns when turning onto Norhardt Drive. Because there is a sign posted, the police can handout tickets for turning left during prohibited times.
  • If you use the car line, please enter and exit via Norhardt Drive. Do not use Calhoun Rd. as an entrance or exit, unless you park near the parish.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Let's Live Like That
During this Advent season, as I reflect on how far we've come with the Doors to Our Faith capital campaign, I can't help but be overwhelmed and thankful for the generosity of so very many of you. We are continually blessed by the selflessness of members who continue to support the parish through the gifts of time, talent, and treasure. It is our responsibility to be good stewards of our blessings and preserve them for future members of our parish and school, and so many of you have already embraced that stewardship model as part and parcel of your spirituality.
 
The Doors to Our Faith capital campaign may be nearing the final phase of solicitation but there is still much work to be done to get the full participation of everyone. This campaign is about being good stewards of the blessings that our parish has received from God. Blessings such as the beautiful church in which we worship, the school in which our children learn, the activity center which teaches us athletic skills and sportsmanship, and the meeting areas in which we come together as a community of faith.
 
To date we have raised just over $1.46 million and hundreds of parishioners have pledged their support to the campaign, getting us ever closer to our campaign goal. We are now preparing to bring this phase of our capital appeal to closure at the Masses on Commitment Weekend during on December 19-20. As we have done in previous years for our stewardship pledges, after the homily we will offer you a chance to complete a pledge form in the pew if you have not already done so. If you have already pledged and committed there will be a place on the form to note that. Then all will be invited to process forward and place their 2016 Stewardship Commitment, Doors to Our Faith Capital Campaign pledge, and Cur d'Ars gift commitment before the altar to be offered symbolically to the Lord.
 
I particularly thank you for your thoughtful consideration of a pledge to the Capital Campaign. If you have not made a pledge yet, you still have the opportunity to contribute to the success of our ministry and mission. You can wait until Commitment Sunday or stop by the parish office to make your commitment.
 
Now how do we finish what we have started and get to our goal of $3.9 million? The simple answer is that we need to have every parish family participate in this campaign. As St. Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians:
 
"For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has - not according to what one does not have." - 2 Corinthians 8:12
 
Your gift or pledge in any amount will help us reach our goal. More importantly, your gift will help us build an important legacy that will benefit our parishioners and the children of our parish and school for many years to come. Have a blessed Advent,
frkensignature
Click here for the video shown at Mass, highlighting the importance of this campaign.
Student Activities
Forensics
The next forensics meeting will be December 16 from 3:00-4:45pm.   All forms are due to Mrs. Schroeder by this date.  Also, students who will be participating in forensics should see Mrs. Schroeder BEFORE the December 16th meeting.
Home & School News
One Last SCRIP Order for the Year!
The countdown has begun for our last SCRIP order before Christmas.  Next Monday, December 14, at 8:30am, we will place our very last order of 2015.  If you haven't done so yet, sit down and make a list of Christmas gift cards you need to purchase.  Don't forget your favorite teachers, babysitters, coaches, and family members. Order cards to purchase your gifts, party food, dinner on those crazy after-school activity nights.  Going to the movies over Christmas break?  Stock up on your Marcus or AMC Theatre cards.

There's so many ways to use SCRIP for Christmas and everyday purchases.  Cards will be available on Thursday December 17 for pickup or will be sent home via backpack.  If you have any questions, please direct them to Martha Connelly, Amy Lodes or Janet Fisher.

It is worth mentioning that there is a higher volume of SCRIP orders at this time of year and in many cases, individual family orders are also larger.  Please consider picking up your order in the school or parish office. We love and trust our kids, but we cannot control what happens to their backpacks between leaving school and arriving home.
Save the Date for a Home and School Social
Home and School will be hosting a Casino Night on January 30 at the Westmoor Country Club.  Mark your calendars now and watch the Shamrock Weekly for further information. 
Child Ministry
Praying the Rosary
Everyone is invited to pray the Rosary on Wednesday, December 9 at 5:15pm in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.  Rosaries are available.  What a wonderful way to prayer during Advent.  Everyone is welcome!
 
Tiny Tot Time
We will meet on Tuesday, December 15 at 10:00am in the Church Hall. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, please bring your little ones for an hour of story time, activities, and snack.  This month we will celebrate Christmas.  Please feel free to drop in or let us know you are coming by calling Dawn Van Dorf at 796-3944 x1117. 
 
First Reconciliation Preparation
Parents of second grade children receiving their First Reconciliation in January are asked to attend a second parent/child session on Tuesday, December 15 from 6:30-7:45pm in the Church.  Reminder, the second family sharing experience was due on Wednesday, December 2. 
Parish News
Congratulations Mr. Aaron Laskiewicz
The Most Reverend Richard J. Sklba, Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, called from the Priestly Formation Program, these  gentlemen to the Ministry of Acolyte on December 5 in the Christ King Chapel at St. Francis de Sales Seminary.  Congratulations to Aaron Laskiewicz, who is assigned to our parish and to Will Arnold, who is connected with our sixth grade class through our Seminarian Connection program.  Congratulations also are extended to Alvaro Diaz, Andrew Infanger, Kyle Laylan, Jose Lopez and Barry Saylor!
Christmas needs 8th Grade Volunteers
Liturgy needs 8th grade volunteers (and older) at all the Christmas Masses to help hand out free books to parish members at the end of Mass. Can you help out? Please contact the Liturgy Office to let us know if we can count on you-262-796-3947 or email Angela Bravata.
 
Help Decorate for Christmas
There are many ways to help decorate the church for Christmas and we need many volunteers. You can help the Liturgical Environment Committee on Tuesday morning   December 23 at 10:00am with the installation of the live trees in the church and the assembly of artificial trees in the narthex.  That afternoon at 1:00pm, help will be needed with decorating narthex trees with student and parish family ornaments.  Work will continue in the church and outside the chapel until it is finished.  Wreaths will be hung, pine garland strung and we will be setting up the nativity. Email Angela Bravata for more details or call 262-796-3947. All are welcome and encouraged to participate!
Please click to read Archbishop Listecki's column, Love One Another.
Community
7th Grade Visit Days to Divine Savior Holy Angels High School
Current 7th grade students may shadow with a current freshman, sophomore, junior or senior in the spring for a whole or half day. Check-in time is 7:30am and pick-up is at 3pm.  Lunch is provided.  Interested families should call 414-466-3707 to reserve a spot on Monday, March 21,  
Tuesday, April 12, or Tuesday, April 26.
Hilltopper Wrestling
Join us for Jr. Hilltopper Wrestling at Marquette University High School. Intended for youth wrestlers interested in learning the sport and developing their skills. Wrestling will be held in the wrestling room at Marquette University High School. Sessions will start at 6:00pm and conclude at 7:30pm on Mondays and Thursday evenings. Instruction will include all positions as well as some conditioning.  See Wrestling Flyer for all information.
 (262) 796-3942 | [email protected] | http://www.stjohnv.org
17500 W. Gebhardt Rd.
Brookfield, WI 53045