November 13, 2013

Dear Parents,

This week’s letter contains the new logo for Catholic Schools Week and for the next three years, this logo will be used as part of our marketing programs as we work to increase enrollment and spread the good news about our Catholic Schools. The logo reminds us that we are communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service. This week our students have the opportunity to give service by bringing items for our annual Food Mass, and by their service at our breakfast for veterans and at our program for all veterans held this morning.  As a Catholic School, the children are instructed in their Faith and have opportunities for prayer often during the day and throughout the year. Knowledge continues to be a focus as classes are taught and information shared through discussion, projects and research in many areas, with technology being introduced and used so students are ready for the future. Of these three areas, the sharing of the Faith is the most important as it was the main reason Catholic Schools were founded in the first place. As St. Anne School prepares to celebrate its 50th Anniversary of offering quality Catholic Education in this Parish and city, let us refocus our attention on all these areas, but especially in the learning and living of the Faith that Catholic Schools teach to our children.  As parents and teachers, let us be the example for our children to follow so they are the leaders of the Church of today and of the future. 

Many thanks to all parents who came to the Conferences last week and kept to the time schedule so well. Our teachers enjoyed meeting with you and hopefully, by working together, all the children will benefit.

This week’s envelope contains only a few items:

1. Statements--Again, your consistency in making payments is deeply appreciated. It is a great help to our budget. Please make every attempt to keep current and/or to catch up, if necessary.

1. Box Top Collection Sheet-- Keep those tops coming as we get close to our goal of 12,000 for this first contest. Please be sure your family name is on the items you turn in.

REMINDERS, REMARKS, AND REQUESTS:

As mentioned earlier, this Friday is our annual Food Mass. As families prepare to celebrate the coming Thanksgiving Holidays, please think about the many blessings you enjoy and in gratitude, share from your blessings with those who are in need.  Food items such a noodles, rice, peanut butter, cereal, etc. are always needed by the Dixon Food Pantry and the collection here is always wonderful to see. Let us show our gratitude and share our blessings with others.

Market Day Pickup is next Tuesday, November 19th. This is the month of the PIE Orders and every one who signed to assist with Market Day is needed to help at this event. If you signed as a worker, please be sure to show up and fulfill your commitment. We are aware that the change from Monday to Tuesday caused some problems, but please try your best to be here.

I need to address a problem that is becoming very serious in regard to our Lunch Program. Last week, notices were sent to some families regarding money owed for lunch.  A total of $260.00 + was due from families who had not paid for their children’s lunch over several weeks. I ask parents to understand that while we do not want children to go hungry, it is important that lunches be paid for in advance. I am sure that many of you do not go to McDonald’s, or Angelo’s or any other restaurant, eat, and then say, “Oh, I will pay you next week or next month or whenever!”  Even though we know you are good for it, it does not pay our bills. Our program must pay for the food ordered, the wages of the personnel, and items needed to serve, etc., and while you may think your $30.00 or $50.00 is not much, it adds up and does make a difference. While I do not wish to embarrass a child because of the “faults” of the parent, it may be necessary to start giving only crackers and a fruit item to children who have large outstanding lunch balances due. I ask parents to please make every effort to pay for lunches the day your child is eating or to pay in advance by the week or by the month. If your child is absent or does not eat due to changing of one’s mind, credit will be given and you will be notified if you have a credit for a lunch. Your cooperation is deeply appreciated.

One other area of concern is that of Playground Duty. A reminder is sent to all families one week before your scheduled Playground Duty Day. If you cannot make this day, or cannot get a substitute, you are asked to call the office and send your $25.00 check to school to pay the sub that we find. To simply not show up is a problem as then we have no one to assist in the cafeteria to open milk for the little ones, assist with ketchup packets, etc. Parents, your children do like to have you here, and it is usually only two or three times a year that you are asked to assume this duty. Again, please be responsible and come on your assigned day or call the office ahead of time and send your check for a substitute. It is understood that sometimes, emergencies come up, but this has been happening too often lately and must be addressed. Again, thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

St. Anne School has always had terrific cooperation between the school and the home. I am very aware that today’s society pulls us in many directions, but priorities need to be set if our efforts here are to continue to be successful--both spiritually, academically and monetarily! Sometimes, a gentle reminder is needed and if I have not been gentle enough, please bear with me. God has not finished with me yet!

God bless your week!

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.

September 25, 2013

Dear Parents,

“Only by love will we win the love of the children and draw their hearts to God; through the children we exert a good influence on the mothers, and through the mothers on the fathers.”  Mother Theresa Gerhardinger, S.S.N.D., Foundress of the School Sisters of Notre Dame

Every time I read this quote in the writings of my Foundress, I am forced to examine my conscience to see if I am carrying out these words of my Foundress. As a Catholic School Principal and also as Catholic School Teachers, our staff makes every effort to teach the children about the Faith as well as how it plays out in all the aspects of our daily lives--on the playground, in the classroom, at home, and I am pretty sure that stress is also placed on the workplace as discussions are held about what people do in their private lives. The children are encouraged to pray at school and often reminded to do the same at home--not just at dinnertime, but daily in the morning and evening, in restaurants over a meal, on the playing fields of soccer and football, the track fields and so on. They are reminded about Mass on the weekends and this is our way of hopefully influencing you, the parents, to live your Faith in such a way that what we say at school IS carried over in the home. As Father Toni says in his letter this past week in our Parish Bulletin, parents are the first teachers of their children and the example of parents is so powerful. Please take time to read Father’s Message one more time, ESPECIALLY THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH, and maybe post it somewhere in your home as a reminder of what your Faith calls you to do for your children.

This is a busy week for all our students as they begin the Iowa Tests. Again, I ask that you make sure the children have a good breakfast and get a good night’s sleep. You may also want to talk with your children about how these tests help us to know where the weak spots in our teaching are and how to best help each student with their learning. 

Our Drawdown is quickly approaching and there are still many tickets out. Because the Committee needs to know where we stand right now, all families are asked to send in their Ticket Stubs and money by this Friday, September 27th. This is presuming that you have sold your tickets. This information is also needed for the food counts for the dinner.

This Envelope includes the following:

1. Lunch Menu for October
2. Lunch Helper Sheet--There are a few slots for helpers needed, so please call the office if you can give an hour or two.
3. Grade 3 Permission Slip for Outdoor Education
4. Grade 4 Permission Slip for the Architectural Walk

(These are great activities for our students to particitpate in, so be sure to sign)

1. Flyer on the Food Pantry Day-This will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013, and food will be picked up at our school. You can also leave items on your porches at home. Please note items needed on the flyer.
2. Flu Clinic Flyer--The Flu Season will be here soon. Hopefully this information will assist you to stay healthy.
3. KSB Hospital Flyer--The Hospital is sponsoring a special program in honor of Breast health Month. See the flyer for details.
4. Note for Grades 6,7, and 8 only.

REQUESTS, REMINDERS, AND REMARKS:

Many families have not yet turned in their Party Money as yet. Please send this to the office as soon as possible as the Room Parents will need to begin their planning for the events of this year.

Last week you should have received your SCRIP totals for this year so far. I would like to remind all who signed to sell after Masses that you are required to be at the Mass you signed to serve every week. Even if no one purchases, it gets the SCRIP Logo out there for people to see and you may get some new customers. 

Every week on Wednesdays, parents are invited to come into the building at 3:00 PM with your children to pray the Rosary. This is a wonderful way to ask for blessing on your home and on our school. This is one way you can show your children by your example the importance of prayer in your family. The month of October is a great time to start this activity and it only takes about 15 minutes out of a busy schedule.

This cooler weather is a great reminder to get your sweatshirt/spirit wear orders in. These are due by October 4th.

Our Grandparents Day is also coming up soon. It will be held on October 11th, and we will be sending the children home with their grandparents at 1:00 PM that day. This is not on the Calendar, so be sure to make note of it on your family calendar. All children will be dismissed at that time on the 11th of October!

This Friday after the 8:15 AM Mass, our newly elected Student Council will be installed. An email will be sent announcing the new members as the votes are not yet tallied as of this writing.

May God continue to bless you and give you the graces needed to be Faith-filled first teachers of your children.

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.

May 15, 2013

Dear Parents,

During the year, at least one apostle is celebrated each month of the year. In May, there are three--Phillip and James in early May and Matthias around the middle of the month. Matthias was chosen to replace Judas and you might say he won his spot by lottery. The story is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and is an interesting one to read. It can serve as a reminder that God’s call to serve Him in a special way can come at any time in one’s life. Calls to the priesthood and religious life are given by God, and fostered in the home by parents who talk about these vocations with their children. In the area of a vocation to religious life, there are also other helps out there, such as the summer camps sponsored by the Rockford Diocese. At these camps, youngsters are able to meet a variety of priests and sisters and learn a bit more about the life they lead. Praying with your child to know what God is calling them to is perhaps the best way of helping your child in choosing a future vocation. No matter what saint one prays to, one can be assured that the graces needed will be given, as well as the grace to make the right choice!

Many thanks to all who came in to sign their Commitment and Fundraising Forms. The Drawdown is officially closed as it has enough workers at this time. Cookouts and the Turkey Trot are almost full also, so if you have not yet signed up, please come in soon. Please remember that after May 31st the $100.00 Registration Fee is raised to $125.00 and does not apply to tuition. 

Many thanks, too, to Mrs. Phelps for a great job at the recent Cookouts. This one raised $1,152.60, thanks to all the workers and those who assisted by baking those delicious goodies.

Enclosed in this envelope are the following:

1. Statements—Tuition should have been finished by this time except for the few families who make special arrangements.  Please check your balances and pay the remainder of your fees as soon as possible.

2. Summer Reading Flyer—The Dixon Library is again sponsoring this program. Please encourage your child to read over the summer as this makes a great difference when returning to school in August.

3. Market Day Flyer—This is a great way to stock up for the summer. We again are offering a chance for free items which will go to one winner—A package of Cheese Ravioli, a 2 lb. Package of baby peas, and a 2 lb Package of corn.  Anyone who places an order this month from school families will be the lucky winner.

4. Permission Slip for Kindergarten for Masses at the Nursing home next week.

A FEW NEW SPINS:

As mentioned above, the Diocese sponsors a summer camp for girls and one for boys. Flyers with information on these camps are available in the school office if anyone would like one. You can also go on the Diocesan Website for further information.

Flyers are also available in the office for Newman Basketball Camp which is open to both boys and girls entering Grades 3 to 8 in the fall. There are also flyers for a Volleyball Camp open to girls only and this is for those entering 4^th Grade to Grade 9.

Please remember that on Thursday, May 16^th, school will begin at 12:00 Noon.

Parents are also reminded to send in their forms for the School Picnic next Thursday. Room parents are expected to attend this event with their child’s class. You also have the responsibility of bringing dessert for your class. There are several classes that still need drivers for this event.

Last, but not least, congratulations to our Sauk Valley Saints Track Team. This is the second year in a row that the Saints have qualified for competition at the State Level. For a new program, the Saints are doing very well. From our school, Kirsten Tunink and Maddy Jacobs were on teams that did well at the competition. Kirsten placed 6^th out of 40 runners in the 400m dash and both girls were on the relay team that placed 5^th out of 47 teams in the 4 x 200 m relay and 3^rd out of 38 teams in the 4x 400 m relay. Coaches, parents and all those who participated are to be congratulated for all their efforts with the Team this year—especially with the many rainy and cold days this seasons offered.

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday—the birthday of the Church.  Enjoy the day and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to our parish and our homes.

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.

May 8, 2013

Dear Parents,

Forty days ago, our Church celebrated the beautiful feast of Easter, and the Acts of the Apostles tells the story of Jesus Ascension to heaven on the fortieth day after Easter. In many areas of our country, this feast day is now celebrated on the Sunday following the 40^th day so that people can more fully celebrate this special event in the life of our Lord. In light of many other Church feasts, this one may seem a bit unimportant, but if one stops to remember why Jesus returned to heaven, it may have more significance. Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us and that He would return and take us with Him to our real home. While we wait for that day, we also have the promise that He is always with us, giving us the graces that we need to “furnish that heavenly home.” So perhaps this coming Sunday, as the feast of the Lord’s Ascension is celebrated, you may want to talk with your family about what heaven will be like, how your home in heaven will look, and who you hope to greet when you get there. I bet it will make for interesting conversation! 

These days of May are very busy ones. Many thanks to all who came to sign their Commitment and Fundraising Forms. The Drawdown is now closed as it has enough workers, but all other fundraisers are still open.

This week’s envelope contains the following:

1. A short flyer from SCRIP about special offers to say Thank You for all your buying this past year.

2. A Box Top Collection Sheet—Now we are starting to collect for next year, so start saving over the summer and we will let you know how well we did in the Collection Contest.

3. Flyer regarding Sports Physicals at KSB Hospital

4. Permission Slip for Grade 8 for their Class Picnic

5. Vacation Bible School Flyer—St. Anne is once again sponsoring a summer Vacation Bible School. Please see the flyer for further information.

5. Home and School Connection Flyer—This is the last one for this school year

6. Cub Scout Flyer—For Boys in Kindergarten through 4^th Grade only

 A FEW NEW SPINS:

Congratulations to the Sauk Valley Saints Track Team for their great season. Two of our students, Maddy Jacobs and Kirsten Tunink will be heading to the State Track Competition this Friday and Saturday. Congratulations to our 7^th Grade Girls who placed 1^st at sectional. Great job, all track team members! 

If your child is planning to be in track next year, please send a note to the office by Wednesday, May 15^th. We must have this information by this date.

Congratulations are also due to our new Home and School Officers who were elected at our meeting on Tuesday Evening:

President—Andrew Accardi

Vice president—Betsy Partington

Secretary—Thomas Halla

Treasurer—Dr. Eric Riley

We also want to thank everyone for participating in the Box Tops collection this year. The winners of the spring contest are:

1^st Place—1^st Grade—Pizza Party and Dress Down Day

2^nd place—5^th Grade 5-- Ice Cream Party and Dress Down Day

3^rd Place—4^th Grade—Dress Down Day

The Finney Family is the family who won the $100.00 SCRIP Gift Certificate. Congratulations to all!

Flyers are available in the school office on the various Vocation Camps offered by the Rockford Diocese in the summer. These camps are not just for youngsters considering religious life, but give young people an opportunity to meet many more priests and sisters and to meet children from other areas of the Diocese than they normally see in their parish. They spend time sharing information, but also doing a variety of activities that make camping fun.

Seventh Grade Parents are asked to contact Mrs. Strum to assist with the 8th Grade Breakfast and Graduation Reception. Some Seventh Grade Parents have Eight Graders graduating and it would be great if they did not have to serve at their own reception. Mrs. Strum can be reached at 815-284-3407.

Please remember that next Wednesday, May 15^th is an early dismissal at St. Anne School. School will be dismissed at 11:00 AM that day and on May 16^th, St. Anne School will only begin at 12:00 Noon. No lunch will be served on either day.

In closing, we want to wish all the mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day. May our Blessed Mother ask her Son to shower many graces and blessings on you and your family!

Sincerely,

Sister  Marcianne, S.S.N.D.

May 1, 2013

Dear Parents,

Happy May Day! The celebration of May Day has a very interesting history. In the Middle Ages, it was a day to celebrate the coming of spring with its warm weather and flowers and a lot of frivolity, too. But some religious sects felt it was too frivolous and when they came to America, they did not celebrate at all. Today in some countries, this day is used to show off a country’s power—their armies march and their warfare weapons are paraded for all to see. Perhaps as Catholics, we, too, should bring out the weapons that we have to fight against the evils of our time—our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. In May we honor Mary as our Mother and Queen and on May 1^st, the feast of St. Joseph, the Worker, is also celebrated. This silent saint reminds us that we cooperate with God as we work to make this world a better place. These two saints are very powerful, and perhaps we should ask their intercession more often for blessing on our country and its many needs.  As we begin this beautiful month, let us go to Mary and Joseph often and ask them to intercede for our families of today, for the sanctity of marriage, and for a greater appreciation of life at its many stages.

Not only is May a beautiful month, but it is also a very busy one. Here is some information you need to know:

1. Home and School Meeting is May 7th and our uniform company will be here that same day beginning at 3:00 to about 6:30—just when the H & S Meeting will begin.

2. NIU is offering an enrichment reading program for students in Grades K-4 this summer. A flyer is enclosed for those grades.

3. Book World, a store at Northland Mall, is also offering a special program for summer reading for all students.  Please see the enclosed flyer for more information.

4. School Picnic Permission Form—Please remember that our school pays for the picnic costs for everyone. Just come and have a good time.

5. Graduation Letter for Grade 8—This is for a count for the reception after Graduation.

A FEW NEW SPINS:

 You may notice that we have not had a Spring Book Fair. This year there are just too many events going on, and it is hard to find a time for a Spring Fair. I would encourage you to purchase books from the Book World Store in Northland Mall and use these for your children’s summer reading. We will host a fair in the fall.

Please make every attempt to keep to the days and times for Commitment Signup. I will need to be out of town on Monday and need to be at a meeting on Tuesday afternoon. I will be available at all the other times. I would like to thank Mrs. Cynthia Cantu for volunteering for the Auction Committee, and we do have a slate of officers for next year’s Home and School Association. Come to the meeting and find out who they are! 

At the Home and School Meeting, the St. Anne School Budget will be shown to all families and explained. If you want to know where your tuition and fee money goes as well as all the fundraising money, come to the meeting for a detailed presentation on the budget.

Market Day Pickup is also next Monday, so please be sure your order is in. This is a good time to stock up for the summer—though there is one more sale in June. I would like to say a big Thank You to Mrs. Sandy Halla and Mrs. Dianna Brady for all their work with the Market Day Program. They have chaired it for several years now and are “retiring”—to work other fundraisers!

Please be aware that on May 8^th there is the last Bake Sale of the year. That is the same day as our Talent Show, which will begin at 12:30 PM.  Parents are welcome to attend this event, which will be held in the Father Callahan Room.

Please continue to send in your Box Tops, Soup Labels, and bottle caps and save these over the summer, too. We have really raised our Box Top Intake this year and with our soup labels, we should be able to purchase some big items rather than just a small thing or two. Every little bit helps!

Just one more reminder to mark your calendars for the early dismissal on May 15^th  at 11:00 AM and a late start on May 16^th. We will begin at noon on the 16^th and no lunch will be served that day.

This Friday, we will honor Our Lady with our annual May Crowning Ceremony. Please join us for Mass as we pray for blessing on our families, our Church and our world.

Have a very joy filled month of May!

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.

April 24, 2013

Dear Parents,

As a sign of its importance, the Church celebrates the feast of Easter for 50 days. During this season, saints are again honored and other special events, such as May Crowning, take place in many parishes. In some rural areas, priest and parishioners walk in procession to farm fields to pray for blessing on crops and for a good harvest. Sometimes, wooden crosses are nailed to fence posts also as a means of seeking blessing on the crops. All of these events are ways that the Church intertwines our daily lives with reminders of God’s Presence in each season of the year. Spring, with its many reminders of new life as trees and flowers begin to bloom, and even as the rain falls, serves as a reminder to all of us of the new life we celebrate because of the Lord’s Resurrection.

Special congratulations to all our First Communicants as they celebrated the coming of Jesus into their hearts this past Sunday.  They are being asked to remind all of us of this new life by walking in procession on April 30^th, the night of the Mass for Life in our Parish. A letter to Second Grade Parents is enclosed with details about this special event.

Other enclosures include the following:

1. Explanation of the Fundraisers and dates for Commitment Signup. Please make every attempt to sign within those times. However, anyone who needs a special time is asked to call the office to make an appointment. I will be glad to meet with you at your convenience.
2. Hot Lunch Menu for May and Helper Sheet.
3. Market Day Flyer—There are two Market Days left in this school year. Those who have not fulfilled their commitment by working will be asked to give time on these last two sales.
4. Cook Out Flyer and worker reminders—This is our last cookout for this year and our cookouts have been very successful. We are short a few workers, so if anyone can give some time, it would be appreciated. Again, those who have not fulfilled their commitment in other fundraisers will be contacted to work this event.
5. Physical Forms for Grade 8—Eighth Graders must get a physical before entering high school. Please take the enclosed to your doctor at the time of your appointment and then send these to the high school your child will be attending.

6. Permission Slip for Jr. High Field trip.

A FEW NEW SPINS:

The date for our school Talent Show is May 8^th at 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Please encourage your child to share their dance, piano, etc. talent with us.

Many thanks to all families for saving those Box Tops this year. We just received a check for

$ 1942.00 from General Mills for the tops already sent in. Our school contest is still under way, and there are about 6000 box tops in at this time. It is hoped that we can reach that 10,000 mark again this semester before the contest ends, so hurry and send in all those you are saving.  Many thanks to Mrs. Elizabeth Accardi and her family for all the work they do in preparing these for mailing, etc.

St. Anne School will have an early dismissal on May 15^th at 11:00 AM and the next day, May 16^th, will be a late start at noon due to a Diocesan event. Please mark your calendars, as this is a change in plans.

This year our school picnic will be held on May 23^rd at Yogi Bear Campground. Permission slips will be coming, but you may want to save the date.

All families are asked to seriously think about attending the Mass for Life being held at our Parish on April 30^th. This event will begin with the recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 PM, followed by the Mass.  Several priests of our Diocese will be joining us as well as parishioners from the surrounding parishes. There is always a great need for prayer, but especially in our society today, and Jesus reminds us that where ever two or three are gathered, He is in their midst. Please make every effort to come as a family for this very special event.

As we experience these many rainy April days, may they serve to remind us of the many graces God rains down on us each and every day!

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.

March 28, 2013

“…This is My Body…this is My Blood…given for you…” Luke 22:14 +

This day, Holy Thursday, is one of the most solemn of the entire Church Year. It celebrates the gift of the Eucharist and the gift of the Priesthood. On this night, Jesus gave us these wonderful gifts as His way to remain with us always. It is good to think back to the day of one’s First Holy Communion and the anticipation one had for this special sacrament. Perhaps on this night, at the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, that desire for Jesus can be rekindled in each one of us. It is a good night, too, to pray for our priests as they celebrate their call from God to carry on the work of Jesus through this sacrament and the many others they share with us.  This celebration, and those of Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday all serve to remind us that Easter is not about new clothes, candy, baskets, or vacations, but about Jesus and what He has done for us.

This envelope comes home with your children’s Report Cards for the 3^rd Quarter. Hopefully, these will not get lost in the shuffle of activities over the Easter Break Time. Our Awards Assembly for this quarter will take place on April 12^th after the 8:15 AM Mass.

Other enclosures include the following:

1. Lunch Menu and Helper Sheet—Check out some of the new items on the menu
2. Box top Collection Sheet—Keep those coming, especially if you use some box top items in preparing your holiday meals.
3. Permission Form for Grade 1 for Masses at the Nursing Homes
4. Market Day Worker Notices—Remember that Market Day will arrive the day we return from Easter Break, so workers and buyers, mark your calendars!

A FEW NEW SPINS:

Please remember to send in your Market Day Forms or order online. The deadline for this order is April 4^th, 2013.

Please remember that Scrip will not be sold after school is dismissed on Thursday, March 28^th. Selling of Scrip will resume on April 8^th, the day we return from Easter Break.

Parents are reminded that students should only be dropped off in the circle area if it is raining or snowing heavily. Please park on the main lot and let your children out there and have them walk to the Pavilion. There have been some close calls between cars and children –and the latter are not always aware of oncoming cars. For the safety of our children, please do not pull into the circle area. This area is reserved for buses, delivery trucks, and emergency vehicles only.

Services at our parish these holy days will take place as follows:

Holy Thursday—Mass of the Lord’s Supper—6:30 PM

Good Friday—Passion of the Lord—12:15 PM

Holy Saturday—Easter Vigil 7:00 PM

Easter Sunday—8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, and 5:00 PM

If you are traveling and cannot attend these services here, do take the time to go to the website www.Masstimes.org and find a Church in your vacation spot.

Our Second Graders will be walking in procession at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper Thursday Evening. This is a very special event for them as they prepare for their First Holy Communion in April.

Lastly, we congratulate and pray for our Jr. High Students who will be confirmed on Sunday, April 7^th, at Mass at 1:00 PM. May the Holy Spirit guide them always.

May the peace and joy of the Risen Christ fill your heart and your home these beautiful Holy Days!

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.

March 20, 2013

Dear Parents,

In just a few days, the holiest days of our Church Year will be celebrated all around the world. These days serve to remind us of the great love and mercy of our God. The palm carried home and placed on the crucifix or some other prominent place can serve as a good reminder of that love. But above all else, the gift of the Eucharist that is celebrated and received on Holy Thursday and each time Mass is celebrated stands as the best testimony of God’s continuing love for us.  The events of Good Friday, Holy Saturday and the joy of Easter Sunday call to mind our own daily dying and rising, and the joy that can be found fully in God alone. Whether here in Dixon, or away on a vacation somewhere, it is a great blessing to celebrate these days with your family. There are websites, such as www.Masstimes.org that will find you a Church and Mass times wherever you may be spending the Easter holidays.  Hopefully, as you enjoy the Easter Break, you will find time to celebrate the wonders of God’s Love.

Please remember that our Easter Break will begin on Holy Thursday, March 28^th, with 1:00 PM Dismissal. Lunch will be served at school that day.

This Friday, March 22^nd, ends the third quarter of the school year. Report cards will go home next Thursday, so there will be no letter or envelope on Wednesday. Envelopes should be returned the day we return from Easter Break, Monday, April 8^th.

The SCRIP Program officially ends for this year on March 31^st. An order will be placed on March 26^th and hopefully get here by March 28^th so it can go home with your child. However, that will be the last order until April 9^th.  NO SCRIP WILL BE SOLD AT ANY OF THE SERVICES OF THE HOLY DAYS OR ANY OF THE MASSES OVER THE EASTER BREAK.  Families will receive their total in the Brown Envelope on April 10^th and any SCRIP sold in April will begin to apply to the next school year. Families who did not meet their goal are asked to pay the difference.

Kindergarten Roundup will take place at St. Anne School on April 16-17, 2013. If you know of families with children ready for Kindergarten, please encourage them to register as invitations are sent to those who are on our listing. At this time, it appears there will be a Pre 3 as well as a Pre 4 Class next year, so please encourage families to sign for these classes also.

A FEW NEW SPINS:

Keep collecting those Box Tops. We have slipped in the ratings a bit, but hopefully, once a donation is sent in, we will again rise in the ranking.

At this time, I believe that our Market Day Chairperson Positions are filled. There are still openings for two people for the Auction. If you are interested, please give me a call.

Finally, I want to share with all parents how well the children have done with their sacrificing for the Haitian Home. This year, so far, $ 532.00 has been raised towards this event. I don’t know how the children are earning the money that has been going into the little piggy banks, but those banks have been really full. This Friday will add a little more to this total and next week Wednesday will be our final day of collection. Thank you for any encouragement you have given them.  In years past, when we have collected for the Holy Childhood, we usually earned a little over a hundred dollars, so the children have really taken this project to heart.

Please remember to turn in Market Day orders or order on line, since the deadline for orders occurs during our Easter Break. Pickup is the day we return to school.

Please be aware that our teachers will be teaching the Chastity Program this week. If you need more information on this program, please go to the Rockford Diocese website-www.rockforddiocese.org-. Click on the Education tab at the top and scroll down the right side until you see the Child Safety Program. You can click on this for any further information.

May you find the coming celebration of Holy Week filled with many blessings for you and your family.

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.

March 6, 2013

Dear Parents,

The halfway point of Lent is almost near. This Sunday is sometimes called Laetare Sunday as this word means Rejoice in Latin and the first word of the Mass Entrance Antiphon is Rejoice. The antiphon continues to remind us to put aside mourning and to exult in God’s saving power. In some parishes the priest may wear pink or lighter colored violet vestments, and some parishes may include flowers on the altar. The purpose of the rejoicing is not just that Lent is half over, but more importantly, that our salvation has been won for us by the death and resurrection of Jesus, and we are a bit closer to celebrating that important fact. It is a good time to check up on the progress each of us has made in preparing our hearts to celebrate this wonderful gift from God. Perhaps this Sunday, you and your family can find a pink dessert to share and some family time to have fun together before returning to the rigors of the Lenten Season.

This week brings another Student Council Bake Sale on Thursday and perhaps pink would be the color of the day to prepare students to celebrate the mid point of Lent. There will probably be a few items up for raffle also and it may be that the money raised this month will go towards our Haiti House. Thus far, the children have collected $129.00 as of last Friday, which is pretty good since most years, during Lent, we usually raise only about $100.00. Please continue to encourage your children to sacrifice for this special cause. And, if you don’t know what I am talking about, please ask your child.

Eighth Grade Families will find a letter regarding Graduation in this Brown Envelope. Please read it carefully and keep track of the dates. Since families may look for graduation clothing over the break, it is hoped this information is helpful to you.

Grade Six will find a Permission Form for the Nursing Home Masses this month.

All families will find the Home Connection for the month of March. These come to us through Title I Funds, and there are always good suggestions on a number of topics in these notes.

Families will also find a flyer on the Newman Play—Guys and Dolls. Several of our students who attend Newman are in the play and it is good family fun. 

A FEW NEW SPINS:

The Auction Committee has wrapped up this year’s Auction and this fundraiser is currently looking for new Chairpersons. There are four places allotted for this event due to its importance. It is possible that two of those are filled, so if anyone is interested in chairing this event, please call the office.

The Market Day Program also has the chairperson positions open. If interested in chairing either of these fundraising events. please call the office. Remember that if you chair a major fundraiser, that is the only fundraiser you do, plus the SCRIP Program.

These fundraising programs are very important to our school.  They enable us to keep our tuition costs down as much as possible. If any one of these fundraisers have to be dropped due to lack of a chairperson, the tuition rate would experience a major increase. Therefore, I ask every family to consider your abilities and willingness to give of your service.

Mrs. Crowson has posted some of our students’ art work at the Woodlawn Arts Academy Art Show. You may want to take a ride over to Sterling and see/vote for our children’s work.

We also want to congratulate David Swegle, winner of our school Geography Bee. We just learned that David has qualified to participate at the state level of the National Geography Bee. This will take place at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn on April 5^th. Great job, David! We will keep you in our prayers for success at the next level!

May the rejoicing you do as this Fourth Sunday of Lent rolls around be only a hint of the joy you will experience at Easter! Have a blessed week!

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.

February 27, 2013

Dear Parents,

On the wall in my office is a framed plaque that says:

Good Morning!

 This is God!

 I will be handling all your problems today-

I will not need your help, so—have a good day!

I do not read this often enough, but I wonder if our Holy Father, Benedict, might also have such a plaque in his office, and if so, perhaps that is what helped him reach a very momentous decision which affects all of us. The resignation of a Pope is a rare occurrence, as you have read in many of the papers or online articles. In this Lenten Season, it may serve as a reminder that our Church is built on a solid foundation and that God is still in charge. As the Cardinals gather for the conclave to elect a new leader for the Church on earth, it is important that we pray, first in thanksgiving for all that Pope Benedict has done in his service to the Church, and then in petition for wisdom and guidance for the Cardinals as they gather, that they listen to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit as they make this important choice. God does not need our help, but we on earth can surely use the avenue of prayer to not only assist the Cardinals, but to enable all of us to accept with joy the new leader of our Church on earth.

Just as was done eight years ago, the teachers will talk about this process and when appropriate, will watch the proceedings so that our youngsters can participate and learn about how this is done in the Church. It helps us to be very aware that we are living the history of our Church.

The month of March brings the following in this envelope:

1. New Hot Lunch Menu and Helper Sheet—Some helpers are still needed since we are in school practically the whole month. Please call the office if you can give assistance.

2. Box Top Flyer Collection Sheet—Keep those sheets coming in!

3. For Moms who want a good way to discuss the changes in their daughter’s life, there is a special Mother Daughter Tea held at Bishop Lane Retreat House that will enable you to do just that. A flyer is enclosed for all girls in Grades 4, 5, and 6. I am not sure if it is open to girls of Grades 7 or 8, but if interested, you may call 815-965-5011 for further information.

4. Market Day Worker Reminders—Please be aware that if you signed to work Market Day as one of your fundraisers, you need to be here to assist with the unloading and distribution of food. This month brings a large order due to the desserts and all helpers are needed. If your commitment is not filled, you will be asked to work other fundraisers or charged a fee. Please honor your commitment.

5. The Dixon Elks are sponsoring a free orthopedic clinic on April 25, from 8:30 to 10:30 AM at the KSB Foot and Ankle Center. Appointments are needed and can be reserved by calling 1-800-272-0074. This clinic addresses pediatric issues such as scoliosis, ambulatory problems, as well as other muscle and bone issues.

6. One last form in some envelopes is a letter telling you that your child’s artwork has been sent to Woodlawn Arts Academy for display. You may want to visit the display and see the work of our students and others of the area schools.

 A FEW NEW SPINS:

Please remember that our Open House will be held on Thursday, February 28^th, from 6 to 8 PM. If you know of families with young children ready for Preschool or Kindergarten, please encourage them to come and investigate our school. Also, if you know of families who are not pleased with their current school, please encourage them to visit. It is your word of mouth that often brings in new families. Remember, too, that there is a Finder’s Fee for those families who bring in a new family to our school.

Our next Fish Fry is March 8^th. The Committee asks for the help of our 5^th through 8^th Graders in bussing tables and assisting with coffee pouring, etc. If your youngster can help on the 8^th or the 22^nd, please send a note to the office offering their services. While students are not asked to give service hours as part of their Confirmation Activities, it is a good way to prepare to be an active member of the parish.

The next Student Council Bake Sale will be held on March 7^th. Hopefully, there will be many goodies for sale–even though it is Lent. It may be a good way to raise a few extra dollars for our Lenten Project of funding a house in Haiti. All the classes are working on this as part of their Lenten Sacrificing.

Our Learning Fair is just a few weeks away. Please encourage your youngsters to continue to work on the projects of their choice or to work on their Young Author Stories also.

Please remember that on Thursday, February 28—tomorrow—St. Anne School is dismissing at 11:00 AM to attend an in service at St. Mary School on the new Report Cards.

May God continue to bless your Lenten journey in this historic time of our Church year!

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.

February 20, 2013

Dear Parents,

The word Lent has an interesting background. It means to lengthen and it is also an old English word for spring. Both of these meanings can be connected since during the season of Lent the days lengthen and the hope for the spring season grows in all of us. As the days open with a moderate amount of brightness and end that way, too, the idea of light does not have as much meaning as it does in the Advent Season. However, there is a way to celebrate the season using small candles that will help to add brightness to each day as well as to mark the weeks as they pass. Simply take a cake pan and fill the bottom with sand or good black dirt.  Place six small tea or vigil light type candles and one slightly larger candle in the soil.  Each week, light one of the small candles to mark off the weeks of Lent, lighting the larger candles on Easter Sunday. Small flowers or plastic eggs, little rabbits or other decorations can be added at Easter also to mark the new life of the season.  Such an activity can be a reminder that Jesus is to be the light of our lives and can help to make the six weeks of Lent a little brighter in your home.

At this time, many of you are in the process of preparing your taxes or you may have already done so.  Our Diocesan Office has asked us to inform all parents of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) in case you are unaware of these benefits for which you may be eligible.  A flyer is enclosed on the CTC and you can find more information on these at the following website: www.eitcoutreach.org. Information is available in both English and Spanish.  Please take some time to read these flyers and use this information as needed.

Last week’s envelope contained the Market Day Form for this month, which is Dessert Month. If you are planning ahead for Easter, this is the time to order those Easter Desserts and free yourself to enjoy your company rather than be in the kitchen all day. There is also a special drawing for all St. Anne School Families who order a dessert from Market Day this month. A flyer details what is being offered and hopefully, you will be the winner! Please consider ordering at least one dessert and encourage your friends to do the same.

Families are also reminded to continue to purchase SCRIP to fulfill your commitments for this year. Please remember that SCRIP totals should be reached by March 31^st so that the commitment to the school budget can be given shortly thereafter.

The contest is on for collecting Box Tops, and many have come in already. Enclosed is a flyer to make your collecting easier.

Our School Learning Fair is about one month away. Please continue to encourage your child to work on a project or to work on a story for the Young Authors Conference. Information on both of these programs has gone home in this envelope these past few weeks.

Each year, we encourage our children to take on a special project during the Lenten Season. In the past, we have sent home Rice Bowls or Holy Childhood Folders into which the children were able to place coins to be sent to the Holy Childhood Missions. This year, our project will be called Hope for Haitians. Each child’s classroom will have a little piggybank in which the children can place donations. This money will be used to buy bricks to build simple homes for the people of Haiti. This past Sunday, Father Dempsey, one of our retired priests of the Rockford Diocese, spoke of the great poverty of this country. Our Diocese has investigated this project and found it to be a worthwhile project and encourages us to do what we can. For each dollar raised, a brick will be placed on our Mission Bulletin Board in the form of a house to visually help our youngsters see what their sacrificing can do for others. If you wish to check out the facts on this organization, you can go to www.HopeForHaitians.org for more information.

Please remember that this Friday is our first Parish Fish Fry, beginning at 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM.  Stations of the Cross are held on Fridays also, beginning at 6:30 PM.

May God bless you in these busy Lenten Days.

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.    

Dear Parents,

“I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.”   Michael J. Fox

As a school that has for its motto or brand, “Where Excellence Begins”, it is easy to agree with the quote from this famous actor.  At St. Anne School, the pursuit of excellence begins in our preschool classes and continues all the way up the grades. As far as the pursuit of perfection goes, that is a part of our business, too. It is not just in our religion classes that we talk about how God wants us to seek perfection, but in the actions and activities of each day, this quest to be more Godlike is stressed and encouraged.  In the Top Ten Lists of many of the classes, it was encouraging to see that so many listed the learning of their Religion and the ability to talk about God in their school. As this week of celebration goes on, we can be most grateful for our school and the values being shared each day of the year.

Before proceeding to what is in this week’s envelope, I would like to thank all the parents and the students who participated in any way at our Catholic Schools Week Masses this past weekend. All of the children did a wonderful job and it was great to have so many participate. I simply called for volunteers and they all came forward, so thank you very much! I would also like to thank Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Crisham for all the extra baking they did for our breakfast. Many parishioners enjoyed the variety of items that were available.

In this envelope you will find the following:

1. SCRIP Totals for families—Please remember that you are asked to reach your goal by MARCH 31^ST.                                                                                                                                                  

2. Box Tops Collection Sheet—At our Home and School Meeting, it was announced that St. Anne School is in 4^th Place for having the most box tops collected. We plan on doing a big spring drive, but you may want to collect and save now. If we make first place, it’s a $25,000 win! Wouldn’t that be awesome?

3. Hoops for Heart Permission Slip—This is our only outside fundraiser for Jr. High, so please be generous. If you know of someone with heart disease, encourage your youngster to participate in that person’s honor.

4. Jr. High Dance Permission Form—your youngster must present this at the dance and we only have enough for each one, so guard it carefully.

5. Educational Outfitter’s Flyer—Our uniform company is having an inventory sale from Thursday, Jan. 31^st to Saturday, Feb. 2^nd. Please see the flyer for additional details.

A FEW NEW SPINS:

Our School Spelling Bee will be held on Monday, February 4^th, at 1:30 PM. All families are invited to join us for this event and test your spelling skills.

With our Auction quickly approaching, those who have signed to attend are reminded to send in their ticket money.  Also, families who have not sold their 50/50 tickets should have received a note/envelope on Tuesday from the chairperson and you are asked to return your stubs and money as soon as possible. Please note, stubs and money should be returned—not unsold tickets. These were sent out way back in November and every family is asked to do their part in selling these.

Please be sure to return the permission slip for the All Schools Mass at Newman this coming Friday, February 1^st. These forms were sent out on Monday of this week. There may be room on buses if some parents would like to assist with chaperoning, and after returning to school, students will be dismissed.  We are very pleased to announce that three of the five persons being inducted into Newman’s Academic Hall of Fame at the Mass are former graduates of St. Anne School. We are very proud of the accomplishments of these young ladies.

Al Morrison Baseball flyers are available in the school office for any students. Registration is on February 9^th, 2013.

Just one last reminder that Thursday of this week is a Spirit Day for all students. They may wear St. Anne School Spirit Wear or the spirit wear of their favorite sports team. No pajamas or pajama type wear though, please!  Classes are also having a reading time and pillows are an option. There will be other surprises for the students so be sure your youngster is in school—unless illness keeps them home!

May God reward and bless you for your support of our Catholic School!

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.

January 24, 2013                                                                                            

Dear Parents,

            “Go, teach all nations…” Matthew’ s Gospel

As Catholic Schools Week approaches, there are many quotes about education that could be used to start this letter. John Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, Booker T. Washington and many others wrote or spoke about the importance of education. But it was Jesus who gave the command to the apostles to go and teach—not just reading, writing and arithmetic, but all that He had shared with the people while on this earth. And while I can’t be sure Jesus ever envisioned today’s Catholic School System, He surely was the one who inspired people like Mother Seton, John Neumann, John de La Salle and many others to form and organize this system which reaches many throughout our world today. Catholic Schools are known for raising the standard and for including the religious aspect in the various subject areas that are taught as well as for the teaching of the Faith. For many of you, this latter point is one of the reasons you choose to send your children to a Catholic School. It appeared in many of the Top Ten Lists that you sent in as your “Homework Assignment.” Many thanks to all who took the time to think about your reasons and to put your thoughts in writing.  We ask the Lord’s blessing during this Catholic Schools Week and beyond as we continue to follow the command of Jesus to go and teach.

It is our hope that you will help us kick off the week by attending our simplified breakfast this year. No pancakes and sausage, but a variety of cakes, muffins, donuts, bagels, cinnamon rolls, cheese and jellies, fruit, and juices will be available and it is all free to all comers as our way of saying Thank You to you and our parishioners for the support given us in so many ways. Our classrooms will be open and you are invited to walk around and read some of the many reasons people choose St. Anne School. You will also want to read the Top Ten reasons the children feel this is a great place to learn.  What interesting ideas they have! We could use a few helpers to serve coffee and the items, so if you are interested in helping, just call the office and tell us when you can assist with the serving.

This week’s envelope contains the following:

1. Report Cards for the Second Quarter

2. Home and School Minutes—Our meeting is this evening at 6:00 PM. Two Auction Tickets will be given away at this meeting. Do try to attend. Child Care will be available.

3. Lunch Menu and Helper Sheet

4. 50/50 Reminder Sheet

5. Auction Worker Sheets

6. Sweetheart Dance Flyer—This is only in the envelopes of Girls, and DADS, please note--You can bring as many daughters as you wish for the $18.00 Fee. So, show your daughters what a sweetheart they are to you and what a sweetheart of a DAD you are! Tickets are available in our school office.

7. Flyer with Catholic Schools Week Activities

A FEW NEW SPINS:

Many Jr. High Parents are wondering about Confirmation Information. Confirmation will take place at St. Anne Parish on April 7^th. More information will be coming closer to that event, but you should have received some information from your Jr. High Student regarding sponsors and the picking of a saint’s name. If not, please check with your youngster as this was passed out to them.

First Reconciliation will take place this Saturday, January 26th. Children are asked to be at school by 9:45 AM and hopefully, Father and all will be well and this special event will take place.

 Our Auction is quickly approaching and tickets are available in the school office. Tables are filling up so be sure to tell your friends to come in and get their $30.00 tickets soon.

Many thanks to all who sent back their Intent to Return Form. This is a great help to setting the budget for next year. Please remember that if you know of anyone ready for Kindergarten or Preschool, be sure to invite them to our school for the Open House and breakfast on Sunday. We are planning an evening Open House in February also.

You may note that one of our Catholic Schools Week activities involves a collection of items for the Pads Shelter, for Gianna’s House, and for the Food Pantry. For Gianna’s House we are not asking for new baby clothes, but if you have gently used items that you no longer need or plan to need, or coupons for diapers, or would like to donate some diapers, etc., these would be cheerfully accepted. Gianna’s House will gratefully accept anything you wish to donate. For the Pads Shelter, we are asking for hotel size soaps, toothpaste etc.  and for the Food  Pantry, any type of food item. PLEASE UNDERSTAND—YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DONATE TO ALL THREE OF THESE, JUST CHOOSE THE ONE YOU PREFER, and these donations can be made all next week.

Finally, just a reminder that the rosary is prayed after school each Thursday and all are welcome to come and join in prayer for life. It was so good to see our children pray together on Tuesday and offer over 5000 prayers to bring about change in our country. It only takes about 15 minutes to say the Rosary and it is such a powerful prayer. Please try to take some time to come in and bring your children for this special time.

May this year’s celebration of Catholic Schools Week be one of the best yet as we showcase our efforts to go and teach the Good News!

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.