The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori is dedicated to providing an outstanding education to children ages three to fourteen in a Catholic atmosphere faithful to the Magesterium of the Church. Using the philosophy and techniques of the Montessori approach, including religious education through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, our goal is to enable each child to develop as a well-integrated human being: spiritually, intellectually, socially, physically, and emotionally
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Lord, let me seek you in longing,
let me long for you in seeking;
let me find you by loving you
and love you in the act of finding you.
St. Anselm
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Upcoming Dates
Dec. 19-22 Secret Santa Exchange
Thurs, Dec. 19 Christmas Caroling and Advent Celebration
Pizza Dinner: 5:00-5:45 p.m.
Christmas Caroling: 5:45-6:45 p.m.
Family Advent Celebration: 7:00-7:30 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 20 Christmas Clothing Day
Dec. 23 - Jan. 3 Christmas Vacation (NO SCHOOL)
Mon., Jan. 6 School resumes
Fri., Jan. 10 Mom's Scripture Group, 9:15-10:15 a.m. Christmas Caroling followed by Advent Celebration This Thursday, December 19 Pizza Dinner: 5:00-5:45 p.m. The cost for pizza dinner is $5.00/adult and $3.00/child. For pizza dinner reservations, PLEASE RSVP TO NANCY TOON: 271-4171 or ntoon@gscmontessori.org Neighborhood Caroling: 5:45-6:45 p.m. Advent Celebration: 7:00-7:30 p.m. Come enjoy a traditional evening of Christmas caroling for you and your children! We will have a pizza dinner at school from 5:00-5:45 and then take our joy into the world as we sing carols to our neighbors or the residents at nearby Mercy St. Therese nursing home. Then, we will complete our evening with an Advent Celebration in the church, expressing the joy of the anticipation of Christ's coming. The children will plan and lead our celebration in the church with processions, readings, and songs appropriate for all ages. Come for the caroling, the Advent Celebration, or come for the entire evening! Friday, December 20: Christmas Clothing Day All students are invited to wear out-of-uniform Christmas clothing this Friday (our last day of school before Christmas break). However, there is a "cost": - Please send in $1.00. This will go towards the efforts of our upper elementary students to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan through the relief efforts of Catholic Relief Services.
- Any student who comes to school in Christmas clothing should be prepared to recite all or part (even just a small part!) of the gifts from the "Twelve Days of Christmas," either in song or simply recited. So here is a good excuse to start singing a fanciful Christmas song together!
12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree |
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Advent Offerings
Make Space for God: Advent Meditation from St. Anselm
Insignificant man, rise up! Flee your preoccupations for a little while. Hide yourself for a time from your turbulent thoughts. Cast aside, now, your heavy responsibilities and put off your burdensome business. Make a little space free for God; and rest for a little time in him.
Enter the inner chamber of your mind; shut out all thoughts. Keep only thought of God, and thoughts that can aid you in seeking him. Close your door and seek him. Speak now, my whole heart! Speak now to God, saying, I seek your face; your face, Lord, will I seek.
Look upon us, Lord; hear us, enlighten us, reveal yourself to us. Restore yourself to us, that it may be well with us, yourself, without whom it is so ill with us. Pity our toilings and strivings toward you since we can do nothing without you.
Teach me to seek you, and reveal yourself to me when I seek you, for I cannot seek you unless you teach me, nor find you unless you reveal yourself. Let me seek you in longing, let me long for you in seeking; let me find you by loving you and love you in the act of finding you.
The Advent Wreath
Here are the lyrics for our Advent Wreath song for the third and fourth weeks of Advent. Enjoy lighting the wreath with your children at home each night and singing this lovely song!
Light the Advent candle three
Wonder who this child can be,
Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace,
Mighty God, Emmanuel.
(Refrain)
Candle, candle burning bright
Shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christ, the Light.
Light the Advent candle four
Think of joy forevermore
Christ Child in a stable born,
Gift of love in Bethlehem. (refrain)
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Development News
GSCM Annual Fund: "Ask Our Father"
"God our Father, please bless our school."
Have you received your GSCM 2013-14 Annual Fund Brochure? This lovely piece designed by GSCM parent Cathy Lipps and printed by GSCM parent Christian Wilhelmy at Seemless Printing features the "Ask Our Father" prayer along with pictures of students at work, prayer and play.
Please consider supporting the school's annual fund to help us "bridge the gap" between tuition and the cost of education. All gifts are tax deductible. Gifts must be postmarked or contributed online by Dec. 31 to be counted as 2013 Charitable Contributions. Either return the response card found in your brochure or click here to Donate Now!
Hands Together Says "Thank You" to GSCM
We received a letter from Hands Together thanking the students for the $2,000 gift from the proceeds of our Walkathon. Hands Together feeds 9,300 students daily, operates 13 K-8 Catholic schools and 1 Catholic high school as well as provides housing, food and medicine in Haiti's poorest slums. Doug Campbell, HT Executive Director, in acknowledging GSCM's gift, wrote, "What a blessing. This [gift] is a huge help."
Tax-Free IRA Rollover Extended
Useful Tax Information for Grandparents or Other GSCM Friends - "Pass It On"
As part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, individuals aged 70 ½ or older may make tax free transfers up to $100,000 from an IRA to GSCM for the 2013 tax year.
Gifts for the 2013 tax year may be made until December 31, 2013. These transfers would fulfill some or all of your required minimum distribution without increasing taxable income.
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Gala News:
Gala 2014: Save the Date - Sat., March 8 Looking to the New Year, be sure to mark your calendar for our 2014 Spring Gala on Saturday, March 8 at the Redmoor. More details coming soon. In the meantime, we are lining up silent auction items focusing on vacation rentals, weekend hotel or B&B packages, dinner and a hotel overnight "staycation". If you have an unused hotel voucher or own a condominium, lake or shore home, houseboat or vacation timeshare, could we persuade you to consider donating these to the gala auction? If so, please contact Karen Aust at kaseta@fuse.net or Mary Beth Escamilla mbviv@hotmail.com or phone the school at 271-4171. Back to top
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Office News
Confirmation Announcement
Congratulations to Julia Lotterer on her confirmation this past Sunday December 15 at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church in Liberty Township.
Please pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to be out-poured into Julia's life and that He guide her in a deeper walk with our Lord Jesus in the Catholic faith.
God bless you, Julia!
Baptism Announcement 
Congratulations to Quinn Galocy who received the sacrament of baptism at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church on Sunday, December 8th. . Quinn and his father are pictured here with Quinn's baptismal candle and white garment.
IPM Collection Last week's collection for Inter Parish Ministry's pantry brought in 57 cans of beans and other foods, plus a cash donation. Thank you very much. Have a very happy Christmas. Our next collection will be Thursday, January 16th. 
The staff of GSCM would like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Back to top
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Thank You, Family!
We appreciate your taking the time to read our newsletter.
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