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May 12, 2016
Dear Notre Dame Families,
In one of my recent newsletters I wrote about how unique our school theme for 2015-2016 is. Our theme this year (Christ Rejoices In Our School Spirit) is also very timely this week. The feast of Pentecost provides all of us an opportunity to rejoice the wisdom the Holy Spirit provides all of us. Pentecost is a very special feast in that it gave the disciples the strength and wisdom to preach the word of Jesus to all nations. One symbolic way to show the importance of Pentecost is to wear red at Mass this weekend.
We will have two special dress down days next week. We will have a dress down day on Monday, May 16. On this day students are requested to bring $1 and the monies received will help with the 8th grade graduation reception. The dress down day on May 17 is to make students and parents aware of Fanconi Anemia Day, which is normally commemorated on May 1. FA is a rare genetic disease in which only one out of every 100,000 children in the United States have. The disease causes developmental physical ailments as a result of an imbalance in a child's DNA. Let us remember two of our students, Evan and Rebecca Connelly who have the disease. Having a Dress Down Day on May 17 is a very small way of supporting children like Evan and Rebecca. No donation is required for this dress down day on May 17th.
The middle school production of Walt Disney's MULAN JR. is tonight at 6:30 pm. in the Middle School Gym and Dolski Center. The middle school students along with Ms. Freeman have prepared a first class performance tonight. Ms. Janssen worked with the middle school students in preparing all of the props, and Mrs. Olson arranged for the students to dress in costumes that make MULAN JR. come alive for the audience. Please come in the Dolski Center and view the art pieces of the middle school students. The Student Council is also sponsoring a Bake Sale with the proceeds going toward the purchase of a new 3-D printer for the middle school computer lab. All members of the Notre Dame Family are invited to attend the production of MULAN JR.
There was a special Constant Contact sent last week regarding a celebration for Mr. Gil Salm, or Mr. Gil as he is known at the middle school. There will be a special celebration for Mr. Gil on Friday, May 27 at 1 pm. in the Dolski Center/Middle School Gym. Mr. Gil has been much more than the head of maintenance at the middle school. He has been a student advocate and mentor, adviser to the teachers and staff, and a support for any visitor who enters the doors of the middle school. I know that Mr. Gil has touched the lives of many children and adults through his years at Notre Dame. If you wish to donate any monies for a gift for Mr. Gil, please put the amount in an envelope, put Mrs. Pagel's name on the envelope and return to either school office by May 13. Incidentally, this celebration is still a surprise to Mr. Gil.
May is a busy time for the teachers. During this month they not only will be processing orders for next year's school supplies, but they are in the process of assessing MAP tests and goals, class schedules and class/homerooms for next year, marketing brochures, assessing completion of academic standards in several subject areas and collaborating on end of the year activities for their students. There are a lot of "behind the scenes" activities the teachers complete before the end of the school year. May is a month in which the teachers definitely work "above and beyond" the regular school day in ways many do not know.
It is that time of year when parish picnics take place. St. Francis Xavier Parish is holding its annual picnic with an all you can eat pasta dinner from 5- 7 pm. in the Dolski Center on Saturday, June 4. Tickets for the event are $7 in advance or $8 at the door. Tickets are $5 in advance for children ages 10 and under or $6 at the door. The Sunday events for the picnic include a Polka Mass at 11 am., with a garage sale, games, Bingo, a silent auction, refreshments, a small raffle and a Large Cash Raffle with $8,000 in prizes. Ms. Summers is organizing students to help with the games. There is a nasty rumor out there that a certain principal will be a "dunkee" in a dunk tank on June 5. The students will find out more about this possible special event.
Many parishioners have helped the school out by supporting the Key Event if you could help the parish out by supporting the picnic and purchasing a raffle ticket that would be great. Picnic raffle tickets are available in the scrip boxes at school and church as well as the parish offices and will be for sale at the back of each of the churches (St. Mary and St. Francis) after each Mass. Thank you for your help.
I would like to give another gentle reminder in submitting service hour sheets or payments as soon as possible. Doing this in a timely fashion saves a number of us time in processing at the end or after the school year is completed. If you have any questions on the service requirement, please read the information in the Parent Handbook. Thank you in advance for attending to this in an appropriate time frame.
Pentecost is when Catholics celebrate the beginning of the Church as we know it. Here is a Prayer that will inspire you on this special feast day:
Let us pray Almighty and ever-living God, you fulfilled the Easter promise by sending us your Holy Spirit. May that Spirit unite the races and nations on earth to proclaim your glory. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen (New Saint Joseph Sunday Missal)
Have a great rest of the week! God Bless,
James A. (Jim) Clark, Principal "I CAN DO EVERYTHING THROUGH HIM WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH." Philippians 4:13
Parent Education
Mr. Clark has set up a Education Post at the top of our webpage. This week he added the topic When Kids Argue!! . This site is updated constantly. There are many valuable tools in which parents can educate themselves in different aspects of their children's education. Very helpful information. Check it out here.
Notre Dame of De Pere Savings Cards
Each fall, the 8th grade class has the opportunity to attend a class retreat to kick off their final year at Notre Dame.
This is an expensive trip, one that requires fundraising on behalf of the students and their families to enable this trip to continue.
The Class of 2017 has begun their fundraising efforts. These cards will be in soon so you will be able to pre-order them.
For more detailed information about these amazing cards and the form to order them please click here
Boys Basketball Camp
Boys entering grades 2-7 are invited to join Coach Gary Grzesk and his staff for three days of skills development, game experience and contests. For more information and the registration form click here
Sign Up for Notre Dame of De Pere's Athletic Program
School may not be out for the year, but we are getting ready for the next school year's athletic sign up for the Notre Dame Athletic Program. Notre Dame has a "no cut, everyone participates" policy. If your child wishes to participate, The Registration Form and Player/Parent Contract must be signed (use a separate form for each student) and return it by May 23rd along with the registration fee of $35.00 per athlete per sport. For more information and the form please click here
3rd Annual Nite-Golf Event
Sign up now for the Notre Dame of De Pere 9 hole, Nite-Golf event on Saturday, September 10, 2016! For details, click here
Overdue Overhaul ~ Phase 2
After spending a week focusing on the wonderful things that our libraries bring us, we are SO EXCITED to kick off Phase 2 of the Overdue Overhaul - a fundraiser focused on transitioning the Notre Dame Libraries into Learning Commons where the students can focus on creative learning!
We accomplished so much last year in Phase 1 - THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! We can't wait to finish this project to make the Notre Dame Libraries and Classrooms a place where our students can fuel their passion for reading, research, and creative thinking!
Our main goals for Phase 2 of the Overdue Overhaul are:
- Purchase Technology for the Notre Dame Elementary School Library
- $500 Book Allotment for all Middle School Classrooms
- Update and Increase the book selection at both the Elementary and Middle School Libraries
- Transition the Middle School Library Annex into a Small Group Creative Learning Space
Please consider donating to help us realize our goal of creating a first class learning space for our students! Thank you! Please click here
7th Grade Families
The planning committee for the 8th grade graduation is in need of volunteer help for the reception that follows graduation on May 31. Please check out which opening you would like to fill. Sign up Genius
NDA - Cross Country Informational Meeting
For current 8th grade students. Sunday May 15th at 5:30. For more information please click here
De Pere Redbird Wrestlers: Pelot Trained Camp
Click here for the details
Linc Darner's Boys Basketball Camp
Linc Darner's Boys Basketball Day Camp at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a great opportunity for young boys aspiring to improve as basketball players. Through drills and competition this camp is designed to give kids a fun and exciting introduction to the fundamentals of basketball that will help maximize and develop their basket ball skills.
For more detailed information please click here.
Youth and Pee Wee Flag Football
K-4 grade sessions for boys and girls organized by De Pere Parks and Recreation for the fall. For more information, deadline dates and instructions on how to register please click here
GRACE Middle School Golf Tournament
This is a new event for middle school students. This event will be on Friday May 13th, starting at 4:30 pm. It will be at The Woods, on the east side of Green Bay.
This is similar to a high school meet. All golfers must know how to golf on their own. It is not a class.
More detail next week! At this time they just need to know if there are golfers in the GRACE schools who are interested. They tentatively have planned for 20 golfers. Information, questions and to sign up please contact Sue Aerts at saerts@gracesystem.org
VERB it's what you do
The De Pere Health & Recreation Departments are proud to offer a new community based program called VERB - It's what you do! for youth ages 7 - 14 years old. VERB is designed to promote physical activity and encourage our youth to achieve healthy, active lifestyles while keeping them engaged during the summer months. For more information on this summer program please click here
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