Herald December 11 - 18, 2009

This Herald contains the following Information:

Events this Week

  • Friday, December 11: Guatemalan Exchange Students, Andrea Morales and Jose Quezada's, last day with us
  • Sunday, December 13: Father Dufner's birthday
  • Sunday, December 13: Donut Sunday after 9:00 and 11:00 Masses, hosted by Grade 2
  • Monday, December 14: Confessions, grade 8
  • Tuesday, December 15: Parent Meeting for Junion High Spring Play cast members, 2:15 - 3:00 pm, Library
  • Tuesday, December 15: Little Flowers, 3:15 - 4:45 pm. 5th and 6th grade girls - remember your items for the party!
  • Wednesday, December 16: Poetry after Mass, Grade 5, Church
  • Thursday, December 17: Junior High Spring Play Read Through, 3:15 - 5:00 pm, Library
  • Friday, December 18: Confessions, grade 7
  • Friday, December 18: Last day of school in the Year of Our Lord 2009
  • Friday, December 18: All School Christmas Concert (this is a date change), 7:00 pm, Church

Upcoming Events

  • Monday, December 21 - January 3: No school, Christmas Break
  • Monday, January 4:  Back to school following Christmas break
  • Monday, January 4:  2010 - 2011 registration begins for currently enrolled Holy Family Academy families      Top 

Principal's News

Dear Parents,

Once again I am overwhelmed with the astounding and faith-filled support that my staff continues to receive from our PTO Board and Holy Family Academy parents!  This past Friday, December 11th, we were treated to a special Christmas gift from all of you and I can honestly say that the day could not have been more wonderful!  At shortly after 11:00 a.m. parents filled our school and took over our basic classroom, lunchroom, office, and recess duties so that the entire staff could sit down together and be treated to a delicious Christmas luncheon set up and hosted by our PTO Board.  As 28 staff entered the library they were greeted by the sights and sounds of Christmas from glittery candles and festive tableware, to Christmas music. punch bowls, poinsettias, and sparkle in every corner.  After an opening prayer, we were served delicious punch, salad, gourmet soups, sandwiches, chips and amazing, unbelievable desserts made by parents and the Cheesecake factory.  The entire meal was out of this world.  As staff visited with one another we received another treat in that a singing group made up of a few of our 7th and 8th grade boys entertained us with a wonderful a cappella Christmas song that I know will delight parents on the night of our Christmas concert.  The afternoon ended with the staff being presented gifts of homemade treats and a Christmas gift of cash from parents.  God bless you all for your generosity.  The event was a Christmas gift that will always be remembered and treasured.  My special thanks goes out to the PTO Board including President, Lara Rampetsreiter, and Vice-President, Anita Whims for organizing the entire event and Claudia Capello for wonderful Christmas decorating and Thersa McCarthy for planning and preparing the meal.  In addition there were many, many other parents that arranged child care, cooked and packaged the homemade gifts, baked desserts, took care of classrooms, the office and the lunch room, set up, cleaned up, organized the parent donations, made and wrapped cards, and shopped to get everything on site.  God bless you all for being such supportive and wonderful parents.  We love you all and thank God for you daily.  You and your families will especially be remembered in our Christmas prayers of thanksgiving on December 17th when we bow before God in awe of all that He has given to us and all that He continues to bless us with.  With my heart-felt thanks and gratitude -

In Christ,

Ann Coone, Principal     

 

 

Holy Family Academy students and staff will offer their entire day Thursday, December 17th, in thanksgiving and petition for those who have given so much to our school through volunteer work, prayer, donations, and general support. We are blessed to have hundreds of benefactors that support us in numerous ways, frequently behind the scenes without our even knowing it. On December 17th, the names of our benefactors will be placed in thanksgiving before the Blessed Sacrament in the Adoration Chapel and students and staff will pray and offer scarifies for them throughout the day.  Christmas cards have been sent to let them know of this special Christmas gift we are offering for them. All Holy Family Academy families with grateful hearts are invited to join us on this day by offering their own sacrifices, works of mercy and prayers too. Holy Family Academy would not exist without the generous support of so many wonderful people.  

 
There is a change to the hot lunch menu for Tuesday, December 15.  Instead of the breaded chicken patty originally on the menu, we will be serving the french toast stick/turkey sausage menu originally scheduled for Wednesday, December 9. Top
 
The Clines thank our HFA family for adding their voices to Maeve's Mass on Friday, December 4. The day would not have been the same without Maeve hearing from the children who would have been her classmates. Students are invited to adopt her as their special helper for figuring out hard problems on tests, helping children get along with each other, and for any other daily needs of girls. Top
 
Because students in Junior High are too young for Confirmation and Youth Group, a generous group of parents are planning once-a-month group activities or projects for the 7th and 8th grade boys attending Holy Family Academy.  Some of the benefits will be: having fun with school friends outside of school; getting to know the boys in other classes; opportunities to serve in the community; spiritual growth; becoming good role-models for younger boys; opportunities to hear speakers on building character; wholesome social activities; and dads chaperoning and taking turns driving and helping so they can get to know the boys better.  The first event is Friday, December 11, with bowling and dinner at Southtown Bowl.  Mr. Luke Carlson and his brother, Alex Carlson will be speaking to the boys. Interested junior high boys and their parents should contact Mrs. Grutsch fat grutschfamily@usfamily.net or more information.  For insurance purposes, this group is a parent-led group and is not Holy Family Academy sponsored. Top
 
 

Donations of Little Christmas Gifts Needed for Elderly of Local Nursing Home

One of our local nursing homes, Golden Living, 3201 Virginia Avenue South, St. Louis Park, 952-935-0333, www.goldenlivingcenters.com has asked Holy Family Academy if we would be willing to help them with a Christmas party that they are holding for their residents; I said, "Sure, we would love to!".  Golden Living is holding a Christmas party for their 188 residents and would like to give each of them a little gift.  What they are looking for is gifts that cost about $1 for each resident.  Gifts could include things like: combs, brushes, greeting cards, lotions, body wash, socks, games such as word searches and crossword puzzles (large print if possible, gloves, hats, stationary, pens, bookmarks, crafts, prayer books, small photo books, fleece lap blankets/shawls (no fringe please), large print books, hand exercise balls...the list could go on and on.  Target Dollar Isle and the Dollar Store are all brimming with items that elderly residents would love to open and hold on to.  Our students will be making cards for the residents during school and Claudia Capello has graciously offered to wrap each item but we are in need of the donations.  If you are able, please drop off $1 items at school this week, prior to Wednesday, December 16th, if possible, but we'll take up until Friday.  There will be a collection box next to the statue of Mary in the main hallway.  Thank you in advance for your support of this opportunity to share the love of Christmas with the aged and lonely.
 
 
Educational Outfitters, 952-927-6778, is offering a 15% discount on all in-stock school uniforms.  A flyer is attached with the coupon to take advantage of these savings.  Remember that Educational Outfitters donates 3% of all Holy Family Academy sales back to our school, so shop knowing that you're supporting our school! Top
 
Honey Baked Ham is now serving Holy Family Academy by offering us the opportunity to raise money.  Simply bring the attached flyer to a Honey Baked Ham store located in Roseville, Burnsville or Minnetonka from now until December 31st. When you buy your holiday ham, Holy Family Academy will receive 10% of the sale. Top

 

Holy Family Academy PTO is combining with Holy Family Altar & Rosary Society and the Homeschool Mother's Day of Renewal group to offer an event with Dr. Coleen Kelly Mast, Saturday, January 30.  Dr. Coleen is a well-known speaker on family issues and co-host of Relevant Radio's, The Doctor Is In  program.  The day will start with the Rosary at 8:30 am, Mass, Confession, a light continental breakfast, and then move on to Dr. Coleen's presentation and an optional free will offering luncheon.  Cost for the event is $15 if registered by January 10, $20 after that.  To register, fill out the Registration form (link) and send it to Tina Robbins at the address on the form. Top
 

Alert Now Contact Updates are Needed 

Over the Thanksgiving break, several Alert Now messages were made using the emergency notification phone system.  If you did not receive the messages on the home, cell or work phones you desire, please call or e-mail Theresa Zangel in the office so that our data base can be updated:  952-925-9193, ext. 109; tzangel@hfamn.org.  This is especially important with the snowy days upon us and the possibility of school closing.  Top
 
Invite your family, friends, grandmas, grandpas, and neighbors and come to a beautiful evening of candlelight and song as our PK-8 schoolchildren present our 2009 Christmas Concert at Holy Family Church. The Sanctuary will be lit with the twinkle of tiny lights, the children will stand before you on an elevated stage, narrators and soloists will lead us, and the young voices of children will open our hearts as we wait in longing, knowing that Someone special is coming. The evening will be prayerful, joyful, hopeful, humble, peaceful, and filled with the sparkle of children as they share their happiness with you. The event is free but a free-will collection will be taken up to help defray the costs of the program. 

Student Attire for the Christmas Concert:

  • Pre-Kindergarten:
    • Nice Church clothes
  • Kindergarten - Grade 7: 
    • School uniforms
    • Black shoes
    • Black socks for boys and black tights or hose for girls (girls may not wear anklets or knee-highs)
  • Grade 8:
    •  Boys:  White dress shirt, Christmas colored tie, black shoes, black socks
    •  Girls:   Black dress with sleeves or black skirt and black shirt with sleeves - dress or skirt must fall to below the knee;   black hose, black shoes
Arrival Time
Students should be seated by 6:40 pm in Moorman Hall (church basement). Students who arrive earlier than 6:40 are to remain under the care of their parents until 6:40.  
 
Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten parents please reserve a place for your pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children to sit with you during the program after they perform.    Top
  
There are only a few days remaining for the S.T.E.P. Christmas Giving Tree; our opportunity to donate toys for needy children ends this Wednesday, December 16, NOON.  To participate, please stop into school and visit the Christmas Giving Tree located on the landing between the 2nd and 3rd floors (or ask your child to do so during their school day).  Just choose one of the over 100 paper ornaments on the tree that has a gift idea written on it, shop for the toy, and bring back to school, unwrapped, by December 16.  Gift cards are also welcome and should be dropped off in the school office. Last year, S.T.E.P. distributed gifts to over 1,050 children; this year the need is even greater.   Help our school be a blessing to our neighbors.  For more information, please see the Giving Tree Info Sheet.   Top
 
Thanks to the generous offer of help from Craig Johnson, our Math Counts Math Club will finally begin on Wednesday, January 6th, 3:15-4:15, in the school library.  This weekly after-school event will be a challenge for everyone who loves mathematical thinking and fun for all!  Both Craig Johnson, one of our dads, and Bill Theobald, parishioner, and math enthusiast, will serve as coaches.  Math Counts Club is designed to increase enthusiasm for Math through fun get-togethers and challenging math activities.  Students in grades 5 - 8 are invited to join.  For more information about Math Counts visit www.mathcounts.org.  If your child is interested, please use this Registration Form for Math Counts.    Top
 
The basketball season has begun!  The following teams will play the following games next week:
  • Saturday, December 12: Cub Boys @ Holy Name, 9 am; Northstar Girls @ Holy Name, 10 am; Cub Girls @ Holy Name, 12:15 pm
  • Monday, December 14: Varsity Girls @ Our Lady of Peace, 7:15 pm
  • Tuesday, December 15: Varsity Boys @ Ascension, 6:45 pm
  • Wednesday, December 16: Varsity Girls @ St. John's, 6:15 pm
  • Saturday, December 19: Cub Boys @ Our Lady of Peace, 10:00 am; Northstar Girls @ Pope John Paul II, 11:00 am; Cub Girls @ Our Lady of Peace, 12:15 pm

    Game schedules can be found at www.mcyo.net . Go Crusaders!!  Top
 

We have switched the name of the Herald from E-Herald to The Herald.  Links to various registration forms and websites and other information are placed throughout the Herald.  Whenever you see a word in a different color like blue or red, you can click that on and it will lead you directly to the desired form or website.  The Herald is published Fridays when school is in session. If you would like information about your group or event published in it, please email our Herald editor, Theresa Zangel at tzangel@hfamn.org.  All submissions are due Friday by 8:30 am.  Top