11/5/08

November 2008

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him,and bless his name. For the Lord is good..."Psalm 100:4, 5a

Dear Parents/Guardians,

October was a very busy, but productive month. I don’t see November slowing down. This is the month of Thanksgiving, and we have so many blessings at OLPH to be thankful for. The first thing I want to do is to thank you for all of your support and caring that makes OLPH the great school it is. We are not perfect, but we are working on it. So many good things are happening here, but without our wonderful families, much of it could not go on:

• Thank you for helping to make Oktoberfest and the Ram Run such a great success.
• Thank you for helping with the Outback Bowl which was a huge success this year.
• Thank you for your wonderful attendance at the Home and School meetings.
• Thank you for your contributions to our Input Sessions that have been going on.
• Thank you for all of your volunteering to help our teachers and our students to be successful.
• Thank you to Richard Smith and others who have helped update our school website.
• Thank you for your patience, understanding, and perseverance when there are concerns and/or misunderstandings and for helping us to address them.
• Most of all, thank you for trusting us with your wonderful children.

The month of November is beginning with a mock election on November 3rd that is being initiated by the 5th grade and the Enrichment Group. All students will be voting in this national student election in our computer lab.

November 3rd is also the date of the Creative Arts Guild meeting. They are meeting at Chef Lin’s restaurant at 6:00. This organization does a great deal for our arts department. We are very proud of our arts program, but we could not afford to do all the things that we do if it weren’t for the support of CAG. They would love to have you join them for their meetings.

Also, to begin this month, we welcome a revisit from Jim Williams. If you have attended any of his presentations, you know how dynamic he is and how significant his message is. If you have not heard him, you are in for a great experience. We have had many requests to bring him back, and he will be here Wednesday evening, November 5th, at 6:30 P.M. Please plan to join us as he addresses the topic of “Strengthening Families”. There will be child care provided, and Home and School will be serving dessert and coffee. On Thursday, November 6th, Mr. Williams will be working with our sixth and seventh grades on the topic of bullying. This is the third year he has worked with our students, and his powerful presentations always produce positive results.

Another event that will be going on the first of the month is our celebration of the saints. Since we were not in school for All Saints Day, our primary students will be doing the traditional celebration of dressing up as saints on November 7th, which is also First Friday. Last month we started a coffee & donut reception after First Friday Mass for any adult who wished to attend. This month we will be doing it again, and our student “Saints” will be there to greet you and tell you something about themselves. So, come to First Friday Mass, join us for donuts and coffee, and meet our “Saints”.

If you have an eighth grader going to Notre Dame High School this year, the first testing date is November 8. Vouchers were given out at Home & School to offset the cost of this test if the student takes it on this date. Notre Dame would really appreciate as many students as possible to take the test early so they can get all the paperwork and planning completed in a timely fashion. Please call Brantley Crowder at 624-4618 today to register.

Meanwhile, during the month of November, we are in soccer season. During football season, we had a cookout at a home game for any one who attended the game. This was a wonderful afternoon and provided a great venue for a community gathering and socializing. The positive feedback was so overwhelming that we have decided to do this during a soccer game also. This will take place on November 13; so, plan to join us for a soccer game, free food, and a great time.

Speaking of Soccer, our next Booster Club meeting is November 10th. This organization works very hard to help our sports teams with supplies and other needs. Fortunately, many people join this organization at registration; unfortunately, not many people go to meetings or volunteer time. They would love your presence, help, and ideas. I encourage you to join them.
There is a Virtus Training on November 17th. Diocesan policy states that all adults who want to work with our children or chaperone on field trips must go through this training. Please register on line at http://www.virtus.org/ if you want this training.

Our next Home & School Meeting is November 19th. These meetings are always very informative and well worth attending. There is child care provided, and the Home & School Board keep the meetings orderly and within the time limits. Please try to attend.

On November 20th we are having an Open House for Kindergarten. If you know of anyone who is interested in finding a kindergarten for their child/children, please let us know so we can invite them. At this Open House, the parents will be able to see the kindergarten in action and will have the opportunity to talk with parents, teachers, and me about the program.
November 21st is the theme mass for third grade. They have been the lead grade on this month’s virtues of gratitude and generosity. Please join us for this mass and the all school mass on November 25th. Our Thanksgiving Holidays start November 26th. We will return on December 1st, and our annual December Book Fair will be going on.

This has been a synopsis of the month of November; however, there will be other events coming up that are not included in this letter. Please make sure you keep up with all the news by checking the Fanfare that can be found on our website.

As I close this letter for November, I again want you to know how thankful I am to be part of this wonderful Our Lady of Perpetual Help Family; I am truly blessed. I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed holiday.

Sincerely,
Jeri McInturff

11/4/08

November 2008

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him,
and bless his name. For the Lord is good..."
Psalm 100:4, 5a

Dear Parents/Guardians,

October was a very busy, but productive month.  I don't see November slowing down.  This is the month of Thanksgiving, and we have so many blessings at OLPH to be thankful for.  The first thing I want to do is to thank you for all of your support and caring that makes OLPH the great school it is.  We are not perfect, but we are working on it.  So many good things are happening here, but without our wonderful families, much of it could not go on:
  • Thank you for helping to make Oktoberfest and the Ram Run such a great success.
  • Thank you for helping with the Outback Bowl which was a huge success this year.
  • Thank you for your wonderful attendance at the Home and School meetings.
  • Thank you for your contributions to our Input Sessions that have been going on.
  • Thank you for all of your volunteering to help our teachers and our students to be successful.
  • Thank you to Richard Smith and others who have helped update our school website.
  • Thank you for your patience, understanding, and perseverance when there are concerns and/or misunderstandings and for helping us to address them.
  • Most of all, thank you for trusting us with your wonderful children.
The month of November is beginning with a mock election on November 3rd  that is being initiated by the 5th grade and the Enrichment Group.  All students will be voting in this national student election in our computer lab.

November 3rd is also the date of the Creative Arts Guild meeting.  They are meeting at Chef Lin's restaurant at 6:00.  This organization does a great deal for our arts department.  We are very proud of our arts program, but we could not afford to do all the things that we do if it weren't for the support of CAG.  They would love to have you join them for their meetings.

Also, to begin this month, we welcome a revisit from Jim Williams.  If you have attended any of his presentations, you know how dynamic he is and how significant his message is.  If you have not heard him, you are in for a great experience.  We have had many requests to bring him back, and he will be here Wednesday evening, November 5th, at 6:30 P.M.  Please plan to join us as he addresses the topic of "Strengthening Families".  There will be child care provided, and Home and School will be serving desert and coffee.  On Thursday, November 6th, Mr. Williams will be working with our sixth and seventh grades on the topic of bullying.  This is the third year he has worked with our students, and his powerful presentations always produce positive results.

Another event that will be going on the first of the month is our celebration of the saints.  Since we were not in school for All Saints Day, our primary students will be doing the traditional celebration  of dressing up as saints on November 7th, which is also First Friday.  Last month we started a coffee & donut reception after First Friday Mass for any adult who wished to attend.  This month we will be doing it again, and our student "Saints" will be there to greet you and tell you something about themselves.  So, come to First Friday Mass, join us for donuts and coffee, and meet our "Saints".

If you have an eighth grader going to Notre Dame High School this year, the first testing date is November 8.  Vouchers were given out at Home & School to offset the cost of this test if the student takes it on this date.  Notre Dame would really appreciate as many students as possible to take the test as early as possible so they can get all the paperwork and planning completed in a timely fashion.  Please call Brantley Crowder  at 624-4618 today to register.

Meanwhile, during the month of November, we are in soccer season.  During football season, we had a cookout at a home game for any one who attended the game.  This was a wonderful afternoon and provided a great venue for a community gathering and socializing.  The positive feedback was so overwhelming that we have decided to do this during a soccer game also.  This will take place on November 13; so, plan to join us for a soccer game, free food, and a great time.

Speaking of Soccer, our next Booster Club meeting is November 10th.  This organization works very hard to help our sports teams with supplies and other needs.  Fortunately, many people join this organization at registration; unfortunately, not many people go to meetings or volunteer time.  They would love your presence, help, and ideas.  I encourage you to join them.

There is a Virtus Training on November 17th.  Diocesan policy states that all adults who want to work with our children or chaperone on field trips must go through this training.  Please register on line at  www.virtus,org if you want this training.

Our next Home & School Meeting is November 19th.  These meetings are always very informative and well worth attending.  There is child care provided, and the Home & School Board keep the meetings orderly and within the time limits.  Please try to attend.

On November 20th we are having an Open House for Kindergarten.  If you know of anyone who is interested in finding a kindergarten for their child/children, please let us know so we can invite them.  At this Open House, the parents will be able to see the kindergarten in action and will have the opportunity to talk with parents, teachers, and me about the program.

November 21st is the theme mass for third grade.  They have been the lead grade on this month's virtue of gratitude and generosity.  Please join us for this mass and the all school mass on November 25th.  Our Thanksgiving Holidays start November 26th.  We will return on December 1st, and our annual December Book Fair will be going on.

This has been a synopsis of the month of November; however, there will be other events coming up that are not included in this letter.  Please make sure you keep up withal the news by checking the Fanfare that can be found on our website.

As I close this letter for November, I again want you to know how thankful I am to be part of this wonderful Our Lady of Perpetual Help Family; I am truly blessed.  I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed holiday.


Sincerely,

Jeri McInturff