Holy Family School Newsletter
October 2023
A NOTE FROM MS. OTTE
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We have had a busy start to the school year. As we think about all the ways “We Are So Blessed,” students are putting virtues and character traits to practice in their everyday lives! Students have been planning activities for the Workathon and how to meet their goals along the way!
Be sure to ask your child(ren) about our first student assembly on Friday, September 29. Our first character trait is respect, which is the first step in building the attitude and behavior necessary for all the other traits to follow. Respect includes self-respect, respect for others, respect for authority, and respect for property. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and we will also focus on respecting our interactions with others. Wednesday, October 18, is National Unity Day, and all students and staff are encouraged to wear orange. This color symbolizes unity and represents taking a stand against bullying.
HFS will participate in the World Mission Rosary on Friday, October 6th. We look forward to gathering everyone together for prayer. During times when our world is so divided and torn, it is essential for us to love and pray for one another. This is also our Workathon Kickoff Day. Students will be out and about in the community and paying it forward. This year, students will be participating in Workathon events throughout the year. We have also set up an online donation website called Givebutter. More information will be coming soon about that website.
Grandparent's Day is coming up on Friday, October 13. We are so excited to have grandparents here and to spend time with the people who play such a unique role and influence our children daily. We know the strength and guidance grandparents provide and look forward to celebrating this day with them. Invitations have been sent home with students; parents should watch for them. Please contact the office if you have any questions.
As we come upon the cooler season please remember to ensure students are dressed appropriately for the weather. In the fall, it can be cooler in the school building as we transition to the winter months. This is also the time of colds and sniffles; be sure to keep your child home if they are not feeling well or are under the weather. Students need to get adequate rest to feel better and keep everyone around them healthy. Please be sure to read through the monthly bulletin as it has important information and dates of various events taking place.
May all of you have a wonderful and restful weekend!
God Bless,
Ms. Otte
A MESSAGE FROM FR. BOTZET
St. Mother Teresa once said, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”
A recent survey released the following - 75% of kids from the age of 18 to 29 years old left the church, meaning the remaining 25% of the 18 to 29 year olds stayed in the church. So why did the 25% stay connected with Jesus? The 25% that stayed, reported that they had experienced five important things in their lives. 1. They ate dinner together as a family five to seven times a week. 2. They served with their families in a ministry. 3. They had one spiritual experience in the home during the week. 4. They were entrusted with responsibility in ministry at an early age. 5. They had at least one faith-focused adult in their lives, other than their parents. (source- www.kidminscience.com by Josh Denhart.)
The family is part of the building block of our community. A strong faith background helps shape how we live our lives in the community. Jesus' most important commandment that he teaches us, was to love the Lord with all our heart, with all our soul, and all our mind and to love others as ourselves. This is part of the reason why our Church exists. To know and follow Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd and to lead others to do the same. As parents we want to make sure that our children are taken care of physically, academically and spiritually. As a priest, I am a spiritual Father with the goal of making sure the salvation of our souls will one day meet God in Heaven. The Church plays an important role in its teaching and formation of our community. This impacts people's lives, the places we work and is for the good of our society. May we make our community the best it can be. That begins in our homes and in our families.
God bless,
Fr. Botzet
A MESSAGE FROM NURSE RAYMIE
Wednesday October 11th Tim Kampson from the Lyons will be here to test the vision screening. They will be doing grades 1, 3, 5 and the Wednesday afternoon Punkins and Monkeys class. Dr. Freese and his team will also be there to do an assessment with the same students. There is no cost for these screenings. Parents will be notified with any abnormal findings.
No School - Monday, March 18
ACTION NEEDED
We are already a couple of weeks into the school year and we hope you are starting to utilize JMC. Please note that while they DO have a family app, there will be different information available when logging in on a desktop computer.
Below is a video that we invite you to watch to inform you of everything that is available for you on the JMC Family App - there is also a link to a document that outlined the app. (If you need the HFS JMC pin, please use 0739.
https://youtu.be/9cTB1YXquqI?si=a-iGmr2v_d52SM4v
After watching the video, login to JMC Family (here is a link to a video that will help you if you have problems):
Logging into the jmc Family portal
Just a reminder, your login username is (in most cases) your last name. If you do not remember your password, click "Forgot Password" and you will be redirected to set up a new password.
Once you log in, we highly recommend that you turn on customized alerts so that you can receive notifications for different messages or grade changes. Below is a link to set up these customized alerts:
Set family alert configurations in jmc Family
Please watch future newsletters for more helpful tips on using JMC and the JMC Family app!
Reminder, Believe & Read Applies to K-2 Reading Instruction Only
Groves Tip: Multimodal Strategies
Multimodal techniques build strong connections between letters and sounds as well as help build neural pathways in the brain. We often refer to this as VAKT (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Tactile) learning.
Why: The more we use these simultaneously, the stronger the connection in the brain. This is why we always want the letter or word in front of them when skywriting. You are simultaneously providing a visual, kinesthetic, auditory, and tactile experience.
Two of the multimodal techniques that we use are skywriting and tapping.
Tapping: Use with any phonetically regular word (If it is a multi-syllable word you “tap as needed”)
Skywriting: Use with sight words and homophones.
We use other multimodal techniques, including hand motions for blends, chopping syllables, desk or carpet writing, spelling aloud, and naming letters as you write. Ask your teacher if you would like any of these techniques explained in detail.
Further Research:
https://www.readingrockets.org/article/phonics-instruction-value-multi-sensory-approach
Annual Workathon
Elective Classes Offered - Grades 5 & 6
Grades 5 and 6 students will participate in Electives of their choice this school year. During the first quarter, the choices are Sign Language, Brain Teasers, Reader's Theatre, Broadcasting, and Mass Helpers/Singing. Students will be choosing an elective each quarter, except for Broadcasting. Students may remain in this course if they like.
In the Broadcasting course, students will learn about the creation and distribution of audio and video content to an audience. Students in grades 5 and 6 will report on current events and sports, share jokes, and share about our character traits of the day. We will be using a green screen application, where students will use their creativity to broadcast from places around the world! Some of the Broadcasting students will also participate in the monthly school assembly.
The Brain Teasers class has activities that allow you to think outside the box to find the solution. They combine fun with critical thinking to sharpen the intelligence in children of all ages. Playing with tactile puzzles and thinking through a riddle can Sharpen the thinking.
The Sign Language elective is where students learn signs, which are relatively easy to learn. Like any spoken language, ASL has its own unique rules of grammar and syntax. To learn enough signs for essential communication and to sign them comfortably can take a year or more. This is designed to be an introduction to the basics.
OCTOBER IS BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH
U.S. National Stop Bullying Day is a day where schoolchildren, their teachers and their parents spend time learning about bullying and recognizing how they can prevent it. On Wednesday, Otober 18, we are asking all staff and students to wear orange.
We have started conducting mandatory safety drills. Please be aware that we will be conducting these drills throughout the year. There may be times when law enforcement is on-site to assist and/or the fire department.
OCTOBER 3
PAC MEETING
The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) will meet at 6:00 in the Board Room.
OCTOBER 5
Reports will be published on JMC
OCTOBER 6
Students will particpate in their workathon activity today
OCTOBER 9
NO SCHOOL - TEACHER WORKSHOP
OCTOBER 11
BISHOP NEARY VISIT
Bishop Neary will be at HFS throughout the day
OCTOBER 13
GRANDPARENT'S DAY
There will be a program for all Grandparent's at St. Paul's Church starting at 1:00 with a reception to follow in the school cafeteria. Please note, there will be NO mass this year as there have been in the past.
OCTOBER 18
All staff and students should wear orange today to help put a stop to bullying.
OCTOBER 18
Because today is a 2-hour late start for the public school, parents will need to transport their children to school. There will be bussing after school.
OCTOBER 19 & 20
FALL BREAK - NO SCHOOL
OCTOBER 20
MEA FALL BREAK - NO SCHOOL
OCTOBER 27
CARING ABOUT PEOPLE ("CAP") DAY
Students are allowed to wear a hat/cap all day if they pay at least $1. 100% of funds donated during these days are given to a local family in need.
OCTOBER 27
Recognize the character trait "Respect"
OCTOBER 31
HUNGER/FOOD DRIVE
We will be collecting food items for the local food shelf.
HALLOWEEN CLASS PARTIES
Watch for information from teachers on classroom celebrations.
September "Give Me Five" Assembly
We had our first all-school assembly today. We were led by our "Faithful 5" Band who played our school theme song, "I'm So Blessed".
We also had a group of 5th and 6th graders who are taking the elective Broadcasting class. They presented a live skit to show students what it means to be respectful.
Faithful 5 Band
Not Pictured: Scarlette Deters
Broadcast Group
Back: Clare Pohlmann, Laney Wilbur, Kali Yarke, Liz Friedrichs