.We.Are.Cougar.
The Nerve Center for All Things 8th Grade | Dec. 4, 2016
Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord!
Fasten your seat belts...
High School Admissions | Deadlines Coming Up: Mitty, Bellarmine, St. Francis - Friday, Dec. 9
Please make sure that you have completed your process using the online tools for these schools. You must complete your process as stipulated in the Admissions site. If you haven't already sent me an online Recommendation Request (use hs.admit@stmaryslg.org address) PLEASE DO SO TODAY even if you've sent me a paper copy of the request. The portal will likely prevent you from going further until I have accepted the request. I will keep an eye on requests and ACCEPT them as they come. Essays will be due at the time you complete your application. A fee and signing up for testing (and interview at St. Francis) will likely be required as well. Review the check list provided by the high school's admissions team to see if there's anything that needs to be finalized before the end of the week! Let me know if you have any questions.
Reconciliation Service
This past Thursday, we received the Sacrament of Reconciliation (a blessing for our non-Catholic students). This gift of grace prepared us to rid our hearts of the burden of sin to make room for the LOVE that is to come. I am so very proud of how the students sat in quiet anticipation for their turn. How lucky am I to witness their growth in taking this Sacrament more seriously!
Advent Program: "We DO Belong" | Tuesday, Dec. 13, 6:30P in the Church
This Christmas play, adapted from a script written by Ms. Christa Hanson and performed by the Class of 2017, will feature Christmas carols sung by students from each of the St. Mary School classes, and a "live" Baby Jesus portrayed by one of our newest St. Mary sibling.
Students have been doing an amazing job rehearsing their lines, blocking the play, and contributing as part of the production crew. We are now off book, which means players must have their lines memorized by Monday. We are so fortunate to have this talented group of students lead the whole school in praying together and getting us in the spirit of Christmas!
Thank you to those of you who offered to help. I can certainly use some! Currently, I will need some help with costumes, props, and sets. On the evening of the performance, I will need some parents "backstage" to help students dress. Once students are set, you may take your seat to enjoy the production.
Costumes: I am looking to inventory costumes for angels, shepherds, kings, Bethlehem characters (innkeeper, Mary, Joseph, travelers). Please let me know if you can do this sometime this week. You can work in the library during school hours or in the 8th grade classroom after school.
Props: The students are making a list of props that we might need. I will share a list once they have completed the list. Help in acquiring props will be needed sometime this week. Thank you to the De Longs for loaning us the amazing cradle that will serve as the "trough" in the manger.
Sets: We will be repurposing some pieces from past productions that we will likely paint as a simple Bethlehem backdrop. We could also use about 4 shoji screens or other self-standing screens to obscure some parts of the sanctuary. If you have some that we can borrow, please let me know this week.
Sound/Lighting: If you have expertise in these areas, we could certainly use your help! We will need to rent a simple, small platform spots for occasional use during the play. We will need to rent wireless mics as well. If you can help underwrite the cost,please let me know.
What to expect on Tuesday, December 13
8:15-9A This is our tech/dress day. We will need parent volunteers (about 3-4) to help students get ready (costumes). We will run the whole play from start to finish with classes singing in between scenes. Please have students eat a hearty breakfast on this day as they may not have the opportunity to have a full recess. We will give them a break, but it is best if they have an energy bar and water on hand for a quick break. Students will be dismissed as usual at 3P.
5:30-5:45P Drop students off in the church to get in costume and get mic'd (if it applies). Please make sure that students needing make up come to the church already made up. Parents helping should arrive at this time as well. Santa, elf, angels, Bethlehem folks, shepherds, and kings will need costume assistance.
6P All other students (TK-7) will need to be dropped off in the classroom.
6:20P Church doors will be opened for seating.
6:30P The Program begins. You may photograph (refrain from using flash) and record the program. We request that you share your best photos with us so that we can feature it on the website, Instagram, and Facebook. We ask that you keep the aisles free once the play begins so that our actors can move freely in the space.
The Program will run for about an hour and a half. Students will need to help get the church ready for daily mass on Wednesday by putting away all evidence of the play that evening. We would appreciate all hands on deck after the Program to ensure this happens. We will secure Hofmann to move "play" items (costumes, props, sound/lighting rentals, etc.) here so that we can finish putting things away on Wednesday morning. Parent help appreciated Wednesday morning as well.
On Wednesday, Dec. 14, all students will enjoy a 10A start time. However, if students are will to come at 9, we can finalize "cleaning up" Hofmann from the night before at this time.
Gingerbread Houses | Thursday, Dec. 15
Assembly begins at 1:15. Come to help between 12-12:30
Once again, thank you to Kim Iden for continuing her well-loved tradition to make Gingerbread Houses with the students and their second grade buddies. Thanks to all of you for your wonderful contributions. If you haven't yet donated items for the Gingerbread House, please consider sending something from Kim's list (Sign-up Genius) or send money so that candies can be purchased to decorate 54+ houses!
If you'd like to come help set up, clean up, and take pictures, please join us in the Spanish/Art Room (Junior High) between 12-12:30. Assembly will begin at 1:15-2:30. We will need help cleaning up through 3P or until the room is back to the way it was.
Students will make cards to accompany the GHouses for their buddies.
Secret Santa | Desk Decorating Begins Monday, Dec. 12 @7:30A
This week (week of Dec. 5), we will draw Secret Santa names and decorate our bulletin board with Christmas wrap and Christmas stockings. Starting Monday, Dec. 12, students can bring a gift for their Secret Santa. We will establish the parameters for the gifts. Ask your students for details after Monday. (It will likely be no more than $5 per gift for MTWTh and a "reveal" gift worth no more than $20 for Friday.)
Christmas Party | Pajama Skate | Friday, Dec. 16
Secret Santas will be revealed and gifts will be exchanged before we leave for our skating trip. Thank you to the room parents for setting this up. Please volunteer to drive -- make sure you have all your paperwork on file at School Office and that they are current. We will need at least 9 drivers! Permission slips coming soon.
As always, thank you for your continued support and for entrusting us with the care of your precious gifts. It is with love that we were given life, it is through love that we are sustained, and it is LOVE personified who gives us HOPE.
Happy Advent!
Mrs. Cecile Mantecón