LOVE US, PLEASE
Love GSCM On Hulafrog!
Help us win a $15,000 playset.
One vote/person.
and then on the heart
Virtue for December:
GENEROSITY
Giving without counting the cost.
December Home Projects on Generosity:
Go to: www.gscmontessori.org
GSCM Touchstone Statement
At the Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori:
Each of us is a child of the Light.
We walk in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd.
We respect others, our environment, and ourselves.
We pursue knowledge and do our best work.
We are responsible for our own actions.
We speak the truth in love.
This is how we love God
and love others.
Easy Ways to Raise
Money for GSCM:
Click here to register for Kroger Community Rewards Program.
Click here to register Target's Red Card Rewards Program.
Click here to register for Amazon Smile. (Register under "Queen of Angels Montessori")
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
Advent MediationBy St. Charles Borromeo The Church asks us to understand that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again. When we remove all obstacles to his presence he will come, at any hour and moment, to dwell spiritually in our hearts; bringing with him the riches of grace. We shall share his power, if, through holy faith and the sacraments, we willingly accept the grace Christ earned for us, and live by that grace and in obedience to Christ.
|
|
|
|
|
 Design by Amelia Walz
O God, who sent your Only Begotten Son into this world,
bestow on those who devoutly await him
the grace of your compassion,
that we may attain the prize of true freedom.
Advent Morning Prayer, Liturgy of the Hours
|
|
Upcoming Dates
Fri., Dec. 12 School Mass (8:15 a.m.) - Our Lady of
Guadalupe
Tues, Dec 16 - Fri., Dec 19 Secret Santa (see below)
Fri., Dec. 19 Christmas Clothing Day (see below)
Dec. 22 - Jan. 2 NO SCHOOL, Christmas Vacation
Thurs., Jan. 8 Christmas/Epiphany Celebration, 7:00 p.m.
(see below)
Note: No Advent Celebration/Christmas Caroling
on December 18, (see below)
Student Government: Secret Santa ~submitted by Alliah Bell, Vice President Secret Santa will start next week! The main idea is for the school to come together and get to know each other. From Tuesday, 12/16, through Thursday, 12/18, students will bring a small ($1-2) gift or treat each day to the person for whom they are a "Secret Santa." On Friday, 12/19, they will bring up to a $5 gift and reveal who they are. Students are encouraged to give a hint as to their identity each of the days to see if the receiver can guess who they are. The middle school will be giving small gifts to 9-12 and vise versa. The 6-9 will be giving to 3-6 and vise versa. Representatives from Student Government will be going to talk to the classes and answer any questions about Secret Santa this week. Merry Christmas from Student Government! Friday, December 19, 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". 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 Christmas/Epiphany Celebration and Sanctuary Doors Unveiling 
Thursday, January 8, 7:00 p.m. Please join us on Thursday, January 8 at 7:00 p.m. to celebrate the Christmas and Epiphany season with our students and to unveil the new sanctuary doors for Our Lady, Queen of Angels Chapel. All of our students and families are invited to participate with songs, readings, and carols. Our students will be preparing their songs during this Advent season, so all children can help lead this celebration. Back to top |
|
Advent Offerings 
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)
Back to top
|
|
Annual Fund:
Your Advent Gift to GSCM
We hope you will consider a tax deductible gift to The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori Annual Fund to support the wonderful work that goes on each and every day at our school.
By this time, you should have received two envelopes - one in the Shepherd's Voice and one in the Annual Fund mailing. Thank you to GSCM parent Kris Schwandner who designed both pieces for us!
As you have heard before, tuition alone does not cover the cost of education at our school. So, we need to close the gap through our Annual Fund.
Please return your gift today in one of the envelopes provided or make an online gift at https://gscmontessori.ejoinme.org/AnnualFund2014-15.
We are asking our school community to help us achieve 100% participation. No gift is too small. If you did not receive the Annual Fund mailing or need additional information, please contact Jana Widmeyer at jwidmeyer@gscmontessori.org or call her at 271-0205.
Back to top
|
|
Don't You Love Us?
Something must be wrong. To date, we have only 84 "loves" on Hulafrog. That is only 3 more than last week. Meanwhile, a little pre-school in Anderson Twp. has 265 "loves" and another one in Owensville has 167 "loves".
Come on GSCM family and friends, take a moment and LOVE US on Hulafrog. Your vote will help us spread the word to other parents and hopefully be included in Hulafrog's 2014 Most Loved Edition. Just click now, then click the LOVE button. Input your email address (which also subscribes you to Hulafrog's newsletter.) You will then be taken directly to the heart you clicked on before. Click it again and your vote for GSCM will be counted. (One entry per email address).
Back to top
|
Office News
 Cincinnati Bell Wireless Customers or Others Looking for Wireless Plans
Cincinnati Bell is exiting the wireless business. If you are looking for a new plan, check out CHARITY MOBILE which will give 5% of your monthly talk plan price to GSCM.
For more information on their nationwide, no contract mobile phone service, including a free smartphone offer and 30 day risk-free trial, call 1-877
-474-3662 or go to CHARITYMOBILE.COM.
Do You Work for P&G?
Our  development department is submitting a grant request to Procter and Gamble. It will be helpful to us to be able to list the number of people within the GSCM community who are employed by P&G. If you or other family members, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, godparents, etc, are employed by P&G, please provide this information to jwidmeyer@gscmontessori.org.
2015 Rome Pilgrimage
Space remains for the 2015 Pilgrimage to Rome (with stops in Assisi, Florence, and Orvieto). Visit the pilgrimage website for updated information:Click here
For more information or if you have questions, please contact GSCM parent, Sean Burns at umpsean@gmail.com.
IPM Peanut Butter Collection Dec. 18th
Our next collection for Inter Parish Ministry's food choice pantry will be on Thursday, December 18th. We will be collecting peanut butter. Please remember this item when grocery shopping this weekend.
Thank you for your continuing support for this very important need.
Principal Search Update
Our Principal Search Committee received a strong field of highly-qualified applications for the Principal position at our school. We posted the position on numerous national websites and received resumes from local, out-of-state, and international applicants. Having reviewed these resumes, our committee is conducting an initial round of telephone interviews.
The Search Committee consists of two trustees (Rachel Sabo and Dan Teller), two teachers (LinMarie Cameron and Mary Hamiter) and two parents (Lisa Schmitz and Jerry Shade). Ultimately, this committee will present recommendations to the school Board for the final hiring decision. We look forward to keeping our community apprised of our progress as we proceed with our hiring process. We ask that you join us in praying that the Lord send the right person to take on this important leadership position at our beloved school!
Congratulations Patel Fa mily
Orrin Patel in Mrs. Bucksath's class has a new baby sister. Devon was born on Wednesday, December 3. We wish Hersch and Polly and family all the best!
GSCM Receives School Safety Grant
GSCM has won a $5,000 school security grant from the state of Ohio. This grant will be used to update the security system for our main entrance by the office. This work will be completed within the next couple of months.
Street Sign
Although the City of Cincinnati kindly gave us permission to install a directional sign to our school on Plainville Road, the sign makers misspelled 'Shepherd'. This is being rectified.
Back to top
|
|
Classroom News
 Christmas Sale in Lourdes and Fatima Classrooms
Each year the lower elementary teachers prepare a "Christmas Sale" the last week before Christmas break. The sale allows the students to look beyond receiving and learn more about the season of giving to others. At the sale they will have the opportunity to buy for mom, dad, and other family members
We are asking for donations of, new, gently used, or "re-gift" items that you might have in your closets. Teachers will also be purchasing small dollar items for the sale, but we would appreciate any items that you may have to contribute. We will also be in need of wrapping paper/gift bags, tape, and gift tags.
Drop items off in the middle room between the two lower elementary classrooms. Thank you.
|
|
PTO News
 Box Tops Reminder:
The Christmas Season is upon us!
If you're looking for something fun to do with your children this weekend, here are some delicious cookie recipes you and your child can easily bake together. Enjoy!
Click Here
If you are turning in a bunch, please remember to bundle your Box Tops in groups of 50. Also, please make sure you check the expiration dates of any Box Tops that you are turning in.
Our December collection contest will end on December 19th so keep clipping and turning in your Box Tops.
Thanks so much for your efforts!
Back to top
|
|
Thank You, Family!
We appreciate your taking the time to read our newsletter.
back to top
|
|
|
