website  watertownhistory.org

    ebook  History of Watertown, Wisconsin

    Set of weekly School Newsletters

 

 

 

 

 

St. Henry School Newsletter

 

September 5, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

            “This is what Yahweh asks of you, only this:

                         to act justly, to love tenderly,

                                and to walk humbly with your God.”      Micah 6:8

 

A beautiful and exciting week down.  Thank you.  Thank you, Parents.  Thank you, Staff.

 

Thank you, Children.  Thank you, God!

 

For old-timers information, we are going to experiment with a different newsletter procedure this school year. Rather than have two teachers write short articles every week, each teacher will write a quarterly update to be published separately from the weekly newsletter – by the eighth graders! – toward the end of each quarter. Of course, individual teachers will update you with important information as needed in the weekly envelopes.  We will be eager to hear at the end of the year which you preferred -- this “new” way or the previous tradition of having two teachers share articles every week.

 

A MARKET DAY reminder:  Internet orders are due by Tuesday, September 9th at noon.  Pick up will be next Friday, September 12th, in the Parish Center Gym from after school until 4:15.  Thank you for your support – and a shout of appreciation for the volunteers who make this happen.

 

Our diocese, actually all dioceses in the United States, appropriately tightened up requirements a few years back for all adults who work or volunteer with any of the parish and school children.  So, if you are a parent new to our school, you will REALLY need to be aware of the following.  If you would EVER like to help – whether in the classroom or on a field trip or as a coach, etc. – you will need to fulfill all the following requirements: 

1.) Attend a mandatory workshop called “Protecting God’s Children.”  They tend to last about two and a half hours, give or take.  NO ONE who has gone to one has ever thought they were a waste of time.  St. Bernard’s offered one in August and we will be having one here at St. Henry on Saturday morning, September 20th beginning at 9:00 am.  These workshops are not offered that often anymore since so many people attended them when the “order” first came out so I recommend you really try to come on September 20th.   You sign up (and check on other offerings in the area) by going to the internet site Virtus.org.  In the left margin, choose registration.  When the window comes up for selection, scroll to Madison Diocese.  Then you’ll see all the possibilities.  You may attend any place in the diocese but be sure to bring us a copy of your certification of attendance so we can make a copy for our records.  So that’s number one.

 

2.) Number two is that you have to give us written permission to run a criminal background check. The form to do so is available at either the parish or school office.  This check is done by the diocese through a bonded company.  The diocese contacts Father only if there is something on the record that would be a concern for someone working with our children.  Information is shared strictly on a need to know – and that is extremely restricted and kept confidential. 

 

3.) Number three is that you receive a copy of the diocesan policy regarding sexual abuse, harassment, etc. and then you sign and return a paper stating you have read the policy and agree to abide by its guidelines.  Again, those materials are available at both school and the parish office.

 

4.) Lastly, for people who volunteer to drive youngsters other than their own children, there is a diocesan requirement regarding the amount and type of insurance coverage.  The form for that was put in every family envelope that you picked up before school began.  Of course, if on the criminal check concerns with fairly recent driving tickets came up, they would be a barrier.

 

With this envelope, you will find information about the upcoming school pictures being taken on Wednesday, September 24th.  All children will have their picture taken for the composite picture and the yearbook, but you are not required to buy any.  However, if you do choose to order a packet, you need to have all the information filled out and the money included for payment on that date.  So please look over the materials and make your decisions.

 

I also wanted to remind those of you who chose the monthly payment option for tuition to be sure to get those payments to the SMART TUITION COMPANY in on time.  It will save you painful reminder fees.  If you receive a message on your phone or through your email service that you are late in paying, you are charged an extra $20.00 per reminder.  And that must be paid ASAP, along with the tuition.  Failure to pay that, will net another reminder because your payment wasn’t done in full – and on and on.  I can’t remove those because they will come out of tuition payments to the parish and that would be grossly unfair since the parish is already covering between 60 and 75% of the actual costs.  So for your own sake, and in fairness to your Christian community, please make timely tuition payments a priority in your budget.  Please.  And again, if something unforeseen happens during the year that really impacts your being able to completely meet the financial commitments of your contract, come and talk with me.  We will work it out! 

 

Thank you to all who volunteered for the various Home and School projects throughout the year. There is a meeting this coming Monday at 6:30.  Although there are officers and class representatives for every grade on the Board, it is a somewhat unique organization in that every parent who attends is a voting member.  You come. You have the same “powers” as every other parent there.  We love having many there.  More minds – better input.  AND, just coming earns you service hours.  Such a deal.  That meeting is downstairs in the parish office.  Please enter by the back door.  See you.

 

Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

 

SEPTEMBER   

Monday      08    Home and School Board meeting.  EVERYONE welcome and included in discussions and

decisions.  6:30 pm in rectory hall (ground floor).

Tuesday     09    Education Commission meeting, 6:30 pm, rectory hall. 

Wednesday   10    All school 8:15 Mass; Grade 8 filling liturgical roles.

Friday      12    Market Day

Wednesday   17    All school 8:15 Mass; Grade 6 filling liturgical roles.

Thursday    18    Any unsold Athletic Association raffle tickets must be turned in – but please try to sell!

Saturday    20    “Protecting God’s Children” workshop for adults (volunteers) in parish office at 9:00 am

Wednesday   24    All school 8:15 Mass; Grade 4 filling liturgical roles.

School Pictures taken.  Order form and money due.

                  Block Party for 4K families at St. Bernard’s,  5-7 pm

Friday      26    Home and School Family Sock Hop, PC.

 

OCTOBER

Wednesday   01    All school (grades 1-8) joint field trip with St. Bernard School to Holy Hill

                  Athletic Association meeting, computer lab, 6:30 pm

Friday      03    First set of Accelerated Reader points due for grades 4-8

                  Blessing of Pets in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, weather permitting, at 2:40 pm

Monday      13    11:30 am early dismissal for all public and Catholic schools in the city.