Happy Catholic Schools Week! Although Hallmark has not capitalized on the concept, all at SJF are having a grand time celebrating the values and vision of our schools. Many, many thanks to all who were able to attend the family mass on Sunday. It was great to see so many new and veteran Falcons. I was so proud of our Kindergarten "choir" who led the blessing song so beautifully and of the others who extended the blessing from their places in Church. It was a memory making moment for all.
Monday, 700 of us danced to the music of the St. Rita High School Band. Their spirit was contagious. Tomorrow, the Jesse White Tumblers will be here and on Friday "Fingertips", a one woman music show starring Katie Quick will be here for two performances. Later that night, Moms and their sons are invited to Kane Hall for "Bingo" and other events. The Mother-Son Bingo Friday night will be a great hit ... tickets are now sold out!
Our second graders celebrated their First Reconciliation last week. It is always such a privilege and grace to be in the presence of these young penitents when they literally skip to the altar to share their hearts with one of our priests in confession. Another memory maker for sure.
I am still trying to keep a poinsettia plant alive at my house and realize that we begin Lent in just a few weeks! The February Calendar has many special events including the celebration of Confirmation for our eighth graders on Saturday, Feb. 25. Our eighth graders have prepared well for this important step in their life's faith development. Our parish can be very proud of their efforts.
All are invited to the gym on Saturday, Feb. 11, for Pack the House Night, celebrating the many athletic teams that bring such vitality to our school. There will be games most of the day, so look for details on the website. This is a good time to say thanks to all who help make the athletic program at SJF so accessible to the hundreds who participate. The Board, the coaches, the concession stand workers, the loyal fans and parents who chauffeur, cheer, and encourage after a missed shot or soft volleyball hit, all contribute to one of the strongest programs in the Archdiocese. I am grateful not only for their commitment to the program but also their strong support of school policies that help our kids understand how important it is that they be student athletes who balance their time well and represent their school and family values both on and off the playing field.
The IHSA Wrestling Regionals are being held at Marist Saturday at 10 a.m. Several of our alum will be participating, so you may want to cheer your favorite high school team at this event.
Registrations for our pre-school and kindergarten programs are coming in quickly. Please tell neighbors and friends who might be thinking about coming to our school that registration is now open to the general public and that because of the popularity and variety of programs offered, we anticipate full numbers. If they have questions, please encourage them to call me. Registration papers can be downloaded from the website (under the back pack section) and returned to school.
On Tuesday, February 22, Dr. Avis Clendenen from St. Xavier University will be the guest speaker for the beginning of our Lenten Program this year. Avis will speak on the meaning of forgiveness using a powerful story from her own life experience. I think this evening will be very thought provoking and well worth your time.
Like yours, our budget at this time of the year is especially tight. Tardy tuition, (probably because of the holidays) makes it difficult for us to keep up with bills that are regular, and never tardy. If you are a bit behind, please do your best to catch up as soon as possible. Please let me know if we can help in any way.
At the risk of redundancy, I am attaching an article from this week's bulletin about Catholic Schools. It is an attempt to summarize our goals for the school and our gratitude for the privilege of partnering with you to provide the best for our kids.
The Girl Scouts in our parish and school are collecting shoes for the "Share Your Sole" project. A flyer describing the program should be in your child's back pack. Gently used gym shoes, athletic shoes, "dress shoes" of any size are being collected to be cleaned and sent to children in need. We will have boxes available for the collection. Thanks in advance.
Last year at this time we were shoveling our way through the twenty one inches of snow...Enjoy this very mild winter and the graces and blessings of each day.
