|
May 26, 2016
Dear Notre Dame Families,
One of my favorite song groups is Crosby, Stills and Nash. They composed the song TEACH YOUR CHILDREN. This is one of my all time favorites as it refers to teaching young people such as your child(ren). The title of the song reminds me of the importance you, the staff and I have in teaching all of our children the right ways of learning spiritually, academically and emotionally. If we reflect and realize that this year has been a success, I am sure all of us can take great pride in that we have truly followed the title TEACH YOUR CHILDREN.
Some of you may already know that several prominent people will not be with us next year. I would like to inform you about the people and their new calling next year.
Ms. DenRuyter (Second grade Teacher) will be teaching a combined 1/2 grade room at St. Bernard School next year. Ms. DenRuyter has done a fine job, especially in the sacramental program for the second graders.
Mrs. Westhoven (Middle School Religion Teacher) will be the Coordinator of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry at St. John The Baptist in Howard next year. Mrs. Westhoven deserves a great amount of credit for our middle school students knowing the doctrine of our faith as well as guiding them to apply it in their later years. Our Middle School Religion program is a very unique program at Notre Dame and we wish to continue what Mrs. Westhoven has started.
Mr. Dustin Katona (Parish Youth Minister) and his wife will be administrating a Retreat House in upper New York State next year. Mr. Katona has been a tremendous presence with all of our students, especially the middle schoolers. As Mrs. Westhoven has done, Mr. Katona makes Religion meaningful, relevant and inspirational to all of our students.
The diocese has transferred Fr. Judah to several parishes in the Antigo area. Fr. Judah always has homilies that are engaging and memorable for all of our students. He has been present with the children, ranging to celebrating Liturgy to washing dishes in the cafeteria. The parishes in the Antigo will be receiving a very special man to minister them. If you would like to donate any monies for Fr. Judah, please put it in an envelope entitled FR. JUDAH GIFT and have your child bring it to his/her school office.
Eighth grade graduation is Tuesday evening, May 31 at 6 pm. The location is St. Mary Parish. The traditional reception and dance will be held afterwards in the Dolski Center. One of the unique aspects of school life at Notre Dame is to have an eighth grade Graduation Ceremony. It is even more meaningful when we can celebrate Mass as a school community. The parishes will recognize all of the graduates in this weekend's bulletins at both parishes. On behalf of the Notre Dame Family, may God bestow His blessings on our graduates and their families.
Eighth grader Elizabeth (Ellie) Rose has been selected as a finalist for this week's "Artist of the Week." Ellie was chosen through the Artsonia Webpage that Ms. Janssen uses to model the student's art work. Ellie will be featured on the Artsonia homepage and will receive a commemorative plaque from Artsonia. In addition, Blick Art Materials has donated $100 to the Notre Dame Art Department. Please continue to look at Artsonia to vote on our student artwork. The website for Artsonia is:
All of our students and parents could: "vote early and vote often."
Our final Mass of the 2015-2016 school year will be at 8:35 am. on Friday, June 3. Students are to dress in uniform that day per faculty vote. The faculty and I would also allow dress down days Tuesday through Thursday next week as some of the days will be devoted to cleaning and other things that may allow for more "active" attire. The newsletter will feature items such as summer office hours, school supply lists, and other things that we usually communicate with parents the last week of school.
If you have not completed the School Survey, please do so. I will begin to look at the results next wee to provide a narrative summary of the results..
Statements have been sent to all families with balances due for SCRIP and unfulfilled service hours. Please pay the balance due before June 3rd. Contact Tracy Glover at tglover@stfrancisdepere.org with any questions regarding your statement.
St. Francis Xavier is having their Parish Picnic on June 4th and 5th. Please help support the parish by attending and/or purchasing a $50 raffle ticket for a chance to win a grand prize of $5,000. Second prize is $2,000 and third prize is $1000. Tickets can be purchased at the parish office, after Masses and at the Middle School Office. St. Francis Xavier's parishioners have been supporting the Key Event for many years. You will see many friends at the picnic.
We celebrate Memorial Day this weekend. Here is a prayer remembering the many men and women who have sacrificed their lives and time to protect us in both war and peace.
PRAYER FOR MEMORIAL DAY
GOD OF POWER AND MERCY, YOU DESTROY WAR AND PUT DOWN EARTHLY PRIDE. BANISH VIOLENCE FROM OUR MIDST AND WIPE AWAY OUR TEARS, THAT WE MAY ALL DESERVE TO BE CALLED YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS. KEEP IN YOUR MERCY THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE DIED IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM AND BRING THEM SAFELY INTO YOUR KINGDOM OF JUSTICE AND PEACE. WE ASK THIS THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.
-from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers
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.
SCRIP and Unfulfilled Service Hours
Statements have been sent out to all families with balances due for scrip and unfulfilled service hours. Please pay the balance due before June 3rd. Contact Tracy at tglover@stfrancisdepere.org with any questions regarding your statement.
Home and School News
We just wrapped up our last/spring collection of Box Tops/Campbell Labels.
- First place winning classroom was Mrs. Cramer's first grade.
- Second place winning was Miss DenRuyter's second grade.
Each year our school earns around $3,000 from the Box Top collection. A recent email from their organization stated we have earned over $24,000 in our many years of submitting.
Our dynamic duo of Jill Hummel and Jill Murphy carefully cut and submit three times a year. Amazing how those little ten cent pieces of cardboard add up. If you are in need of "at home-fundraising" service hours next year please contact these ladies.
Unfortunately, Campbell's Labels are being phased out by the company next year, but please keep saving them until they no longer appear on their products. We do collect Austin grocery receipts and Moola milk caps which generates a few hundred dollars each school year. The soda-pop tabs are turned in to Ronald McDonald House by Mrs. Cramer in honor of a former student who used their services many years ago.
All your collecting and cutting helps us add to your Home and School dues so we can provide the back to school cookout, new family welcome gifts, Fall Fest, Catholic Schools Week breakfast, Donuts for Dads, Muffins for Moms, appreciation week for staff members, teacher reimbursements, and this year a new elementary uniform cabinet. Join us at our next Home and School meeting on June 16 as we start planning for next school year.
St. Francis Xavier Parish Picnic
St. Francis Xavier is having their Parish picnic on June 4th and 5th. Please help support the Parish by attending and/or purchasing a $50.00 raffle ticket for a chance to win a grand prize of $5,000, 2nd prize $2,000.00 and a 3rd prize of $1,000.00. Tickets can be purchased at the parish office, after masses and at the Middle School Office. St. Francis Xavier's parishioners have been supporting the Key Event for many years, let's show them our support.
AbbeyFest: A Summer Event for Families
Music, cookout, abbey tours, and children's activities-all on the lovely grounds of St. Norbert Abbey. Join the Norbertine community for this first (and hopefully annual) event for families and experience this sacred place in a lively, fun-filled way. Popular musician Randy Peterson will delight people of all ages, and children's activities will be offered throughout the evening. Tour the majestic abbey church, inner cloister gardens, and abbey museum with knowledgeable Norbertines, and be inspired by the renowned stained glass windows. An abbey-original coloring book of the windows will be available for those on the tour. Food and soft drinks will be served and photo opportunities will abound. Guaranteed, a wonderful time will be had by all.
Please note: the event will take place on the front lawn of the abbey with parking available in the south-side parking lot. In case of inclement weather, activities will be held indoors.
Sunday, 5-7 pm (rain or shine)
Cost: children under age 3-no cost; children ages 3-11-$3; ages 12 and up-$5
(includes food, beverages, music, activities)
Registration and payment required by July 18th | Maximum 100 participants
2016 Key Event
It is time to start thinking Key Event 2016. We are looking for a few good people to take some Key Event leads and be on committees. Get a jump start on your volunteer hours for the 2016-17 school year. For more information click here
City of De Pere's 2016 Summer Playground Program
Are you looking for a healthy, interactive and enjoyable summer for your child? The Summer Playground program provides safe, structured activities for children 6 - 14 years old. June 13th - August 12th. For details and registration click here
Grace Basketball Skills Camp
The sign up deadline is Friday May 27th. We have some great guest coaches coming to speak at the camp:
Anna DeForge is a Wisconsin Basketball Hall of Famer, 5-Time European Champion, 2-Time WNBA All-Star, 2-Time All-American and one of the coveted 5 players to be named to the
University of Nebraska All-Century Team.
John Taylor just finished his first season as the Head Boy's Basketball Coach at Notre Dame Academy, where his team finished 5th in the very tough Fox River Classic Conference.
Sara Rohde is the Head Girl's Basketball Coach at Notre Dame Academy. She just finished her 5th year and has taken her teams to the State. Tournament 4 of those years, winning the State Title twice.
Please sign up your student-athletes soon as the camps numbers are growing daily and we can only take 40 campers per session. For more information click here
Employment Opportunity
St. Mary Parish is seeking a Receptionist/Secretary for the Parish Office. Responsibilities to include operating the switchboard and communicating promptly, courteously and accurately with parishioners, visitors and staff. This position is responsible for preparing the weekly bulletin, managing correspondence, taking meeting minutes, maintaining parish calendars, and coordinating parish ministries and committee activities. Qualified candidates will possess excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability and willingness to be a team member. computer skills include Microsoft Word and experience with desktop publishing such as Microsoft Publisher or Adobe InDesign. Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 3:30pm. Please contact Lois Schumacher, Business Administrator, at lschumacher@stmarydepere.org or 920-337-2330
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
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
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
| 
