News and Notes December 11, 2019
A Note from the Principal
Hello! Please see below for several time-sensitive announcements.
Interested in contributing to a teacher or staff Christmas gift? How to donate: Use the following link: https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Form/d5fa2142-2bb6-45ff-ba26-ac9823c660d4
Please know that this link is separate from the classroom/auction donation. It is completely voluntary and only meant to make life easier during this busy season. The cut-off date to donate online is Friday, December 13th.
As you may have noticed, the nearby streets are being resurfaced. We received word today that construction will begin tomorrow on both Rockford and Quincy. The construction should not start until 8:30 and they plan to have the process finished by dismissal. We do not anticipate any disruptions to the school day, but please be prepared for some delays if you are coming to campus during school hours.
The 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students, as well as the 8th grade music class, will be putting on a Christmas program tomorrow at 7:00 in the Church. Students need to arrive by 6:45, but the Church will be having Mass until 6:15. We do ask that in preparation for the program that we are mindful of our presence in the Church.
With Winter Weather approaching I would like to remind you that we will communicate any weather-related closures or delays through text message, email, and social media. If you are curious if you receive text messages from the school, please check to see if you received a text about Teacher Christmas gifts this morning. If you did, you are on our text list, if not, you are not on the text list. As a reminder, any closure or delay applies to both Marquette and ECDC.
DO YOU HAVE COATS YOU DON’T NEED ANYMORE? **DONATE THEM!**
Winter temperatures are here, and we have a local Catholic Diocesan School in need of warm winter coats. The children of Sts. Peter and Paul School range from 3yr Pre-School through 8th Grade. Please help us this Advent Season, warm their bodies and hearts with the peace of knowing they have a warm winter coat this year. There will be a box by the main doors for your gently used and/or new coats between today and Friday, December 13th. Please help us to fill these boxes!
Father Elkin Recently Talked to 2nd Grade About Christmas in Columbia
Christmas Jars
Whether you are new parents to the building or have been at Marquette for years, you have probably heard of the Marquette Christmas Jars Project. This wonderful “miracle” came about from a book that Mrs. Baker taught and Mrs. Price will continue to teach to the seventh grade students. As many of you know, Mrs. Baker (former language arts teacher) was very passionate about this project and when she moved, her biggest wish was that this blessing continue. Mrs. Price (current language arts teacher) will get to experience the Christmas Jars project this year and experience what a blessing it is.
The book itself is called Christmas Jars. It has an outstanding message of sacrifice, love, and care for others. The book is based upon a family that makes an anonymous donation of dollars and coins to someone in need. This particular family would place a jar in their home year round and place spare change and bills in it, knowing that each time they did this the money was going to someone who may need it during the Christmas holidays.
The beauty of the actual project is the reminder that each time we, as a community, place any amount of money in that Christmas Jar, we are doing it with a whole heart and the satisfaction for that brief moment we are thinking of someone else. We distribute the money both within and outside of our community to families that we know could use some help at Christmas time. The money is a wonderful thing, but the real beauty of the project is the fact that we are demonstrating our love and concern for another human being. If you have the opportunity to read this short story, you should. You may have also seen the movie was recently released and will be on video soon.
Thank you for your support with this project, and we hope you will have your child make his/her Christmas Jar in their classroom “jingle.” When we do this we are not only giving someone some much needed monetary support, but the bigger and better thing is we are giving them “hope” that someone truly cares about them. The students will have the jars in the classrooms when we return from Thanksgiving Break.
Another element that was added to the project a few years back was “Match the Magic.”
Once again we are reaching out to our families with "MATCH THE MAGIC." The hope is that people and/or companies will be willing to match contributions made by the jars in given homerooms. Here are a few ideas:
1. Match the amount of ONE classroom jar (Roughly $100)
2. Match the amount of FOUR classroom jars (Roughly $400)
3. Match the total amount made by the school (Usually $2,000 to $3,000)
4. Give a flat amount
If you would like to participate in Match the Magic, or you can get a small business or company to contribute, please let Mrs. Robinson know as soon as possible. Last year, every classroom had a match. We are hoping this year we can accomplish the same goal. It would be wonderful. Your generosity would be greatly appreciated more than you will ever know. If you would like to participate in Match the Magic, please email Mrs. Robinson at tracey.robinson@marquetteschool.org.
Wishing you many blessings this holiday season,
Mr. Luetkemeyer, Mrs. Robinson, and Mrs. Price
Inclement Weather Notice
As we enter the winter months, I think it is appropriate to take some time to discuss my approach to closing school due to extreme weather before it happens.
All families handle weather differently and I strongly encourage families to make their own decisions regarding whether or not it is safe to travel to school. On a bad weather day or a potentially bad weather day, the school will make a decision to hold classes or not no later than 6:15 in the morning. The school will send a text message through RenWeb and post on the Marquette Facebook page. I always prefer to make a decision about school closure as early as possible, however, sometimes the timing of incoming weather can make the decision difficult. Often times a decision is made during overnight hours, so check your phone/email or social media early in the morning or even the night before.
Once I determine to open school, I will not close the school early barring a major catastrophe or loss of power/heat. Although the school will not be closed mid-day, we do encourage families to make their own decision on picking up their children early. Please do not delay picking up your child(ren) early if you have concerns, we will not make judgments on your personal family decision. Any child picked up after 12:00 will not have any penalties apply to their attendance. To keep phone lines open, however, please do not call ahead to check out your child. We ask that you arrive in the school office and we will call your child down with their things.
Late starts are an option the school may choose to use in the case of bad roads or the potential for bad weather hitting around arrival time. Theoretically, a late start allows families and teachers to begin driving after the sun comes up and could better allow individuals to navigate icy or snow packed streets. While we understand a late start can disrupt a parent’s ability to get to work on time, our hope is that a shorter day at work is better than taking an entire personal day to watch children. During a late start, the school will indicate through email communication what time the building will open and when drop off can begin.
While the school will not ever close early once the day has begun (barring a major catastrophe), the school may choose to close Extended Care early. In the event of bad weather or potentially bad weather later in the day, Extended Care may be closed early. In the event that Extended Care closes early, we ask families to make every effort to pick up their children as soon as possible so that our employees can drive home safely. We will do our very best to make an announcement about extended care as early as possible.
Decisions on canceling school are always incredibly difficult. Living in Oklahoma, we know that the weather can change quickly. Likely, many of us can remember times that the forecast was wrong and fears of inclement weather never materialized. In my experience, most principals have called off school before only to feel foolish later in the day. In times when I am most uncertain, however, I often think of the quote, “I would rather be foolish 99 times, than deadly wrong once”. While to some, the decision to remain in school or not does not seem one of life and death. Ultimately, however, I cannot risk the potential of a family or teacher being injured in a car accident or slipping on ice when we still have room in our calendar to close without impact to our last day of school. In this situation, the health and well being of our community outweighs the costs of inconvenience.
If you should have any questions about our winter weather closing, please contact me at jay.luetkemeyer@marquetteschool.org or simply call the school office. The decision to close school is not made easily and I will always try to make a decision that is in the best interest of all of our students, families, and staff. I implore you to never go against your better judgment when making a decision to bring your child(ren) to school. I am making a decision that meets the needs of all our students and families, you must make the decision for your specific family.
Yearbook Pictures Needed!
marquetteyearbook@marquetteschool.org or you are always welcome to use the ReplayIT app.
Baseball Options
2020 Baseball Spring League-
Live Registration starts November 15th!!!
Register On-Line at www.uybbaseball.com
(Registration Deadline – February 7th, Late Registration Ends February 12)
Recreation Division
Pre-K Tee Ball - 8 game minimum
$95 per player (Includes Cap & Shirt)
Trophies for all players in PreK & K
Kindergarten Modified Coach Pitch & 1st Grade/7U Coach Pitch
12 game minimum
$110 per player (Includes Cap & Shirt)
Trophies for top placing teams in league
Age Based (Individual Registration) - USSSA Registered
8U Coach Pitch - $110 per player - 12 game minimum
9U through 12U Baseball - $130 per player - 12 game minimum
13U through 14U Baseball - $130 per player - 12 game minimum
Trophies for top placing teams in league
Competitive Division (Team Registration) - USSSA Registered& Insured
8U Coach Pitch - 12 game minimum - $1,000 per team
9U through 14U Baseball - 12 game minimum - $1,200 per team
All Divisions Includes Umpire Fees & Game Balls
-USSSA Tournaments-
Tournaments Every Weekend at Hilti Park in the Spring!!!
All Schools Are Welcome to Play!!!
Flexible age/grade based teams through 1st grade
Age appropriate fields
No required fundraising for rec teams Additional UYB League Information available at www.uybbaseball.com
direct signup link
https://backoffice.sportspilot.com/register/family/default.asp?asoid=105983
Calendar of Events
2019-2020 Parent Calendar
*All times and dates are subject to change.
1st Semester
December 12 &13 ECDC Christmas program
December 2 Jingle Bell Shootout
Dec. 17-19 Middle School Finals
December 16 Advent Prayer Service: 8:05 (gym)
Dec. 20 Last Day/Christmas Parties/Middle School Retreat/Prayer Service
December 21 Christmas Break Starts
January 6 Last Day of Christmas Break
2nd Semester
January 6 Teacher Curriculum Planning Day
January 7 Class Resume
January 7 Early Childhood Parent Education Session
January 10 Kindergarten Open House 11:30
January 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day-No School
January 25 Boots N BBQ
January 25-31 Catholic Schools Week
February 4 Early Childhood Parent Education Session
February 6 2:15 Dismissal for Conferences (Conferences from 3:00-6:00)
February 7 NO SCHOOL Parent Teacher Conferences 8:30-12:00
February 13 Valentine Parties-2:15 (Kindergarten Friendship Breakfast)
February 14 Diocesan Professional Day-No School
February 17 Presidents Day-No School
February 26 Ash Wednesday
March 3 Early Childhood Parent Education Session
March 12 Q&U Wedding
March 15 Last Day of 3rd Quarter
March 14-22 Spring Break
March 27-April 3 Spring Book Fair
April 9 Living Stations of the Cross-2:00
April 7 Early Childhood Parent Education Session
April 10 Good Friday-No School
April 13 Easter Monday-No School
April 23 NJHS Inductions
April 25-26 2nd Grade Treasure Box Weekend
May 5 Early Childhood Parent Education Session
May 6 K-8 May Crowning 10:00
May 13 Kindergarten Nursery Rhyme Day @8:30
May 1 1st Communion Luncheon--2nd Grade
May 2 & 3 1st Communion Weekend
May 8 Field Day
May 15 Field Day Make Up
May 14 8th Grade Luncheon and 8th Grade Graduation
May 21 Last Day of School/Kindergarten Graduation 10:30/Noon Dismissal
2019-2020 Marquette School Theme
Prayer Request
Heavenly Father as we begin this new school year I pray that you would give us an understanding and discerning heart in our thoughts, words, and actions with our children, with their teachers, and with our fellow parents. Help us to be slow to anger but quick to respond to the needs, disappointment, and problems that others are facing.
Keep me Lord from developing a judgmental spirit that can so often jump to the wrong conclusions and prevent me for speaking too hastily, which can so often cause sadness and pain to those that are in need and trouble.
Lord as a community we want to be used by You as a channel of blessing and of loving compassion. Teach us, Lord, how to be the models for our children and we pray that You would change us from the inside out to be the person that You would have me to be. Lord, bless this school as we celebrate 100 years of Catholic education and may we do all things pleasing to You. Amen.
- For our students, parents, and teachers that we will experience a year of faith-filled development.
- For an increase in vocations within our Christ the King/Marquette community.
- For our Priests and for an increase in vocations to the Priesthood and religious life.
- For those separated from their families due to military deployment.