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.