Weekly Update
Holy Trinity Catholic School November 3rd, 2022
Our Mission Statement
PRAYER
Dear Father in heaven,
We seek you and your kingdom. We gather to hear your Word so that we may receive strength for our own lives and for all our relationships with others. We want to stand firm, believing that in everything great and small your will is being done and that we may yet experience a new coming of your glory on earth. Then earthly concerns will no longer torment us and wear us out, but heavenly things may surround us and everything become new in accordance with your good, merciful, and perfect will.
Amen.
A Note from Mrs. Longden
All Hallows' Eve - October 31. Although most people know this day by a slightly different name, Halloween, it really means the eve of a holy day. The holy days are All Saints' and All Souls' Day, which we celebrate on November 1 and 2. As with most holidays, this one too has a meaning behind it that the secular world often misses. All Hallows' Eve was instituted as a feast by Pope Gregory III in the eighth century as a preparation for the holy days ahead. All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days commemorate the dead, in heaven and in purgatory respectively.
The contemporary version of Halloween glorifies the demonic with emphasis on violence, horror, and death, and also includes trick or treating, carving pumpkins, scary stories and the like. But why does our culture focus on these things, instead of the original intent for the feast? This is, at least in part, a result of Catholics believing the propaganda that was spread against aspects of their faith (that it is evil, rather than holy) and pulling away from a traditional and faithful celebration of this essentially religious holiday. It was then left to be hijacked by secular culture.
However, there are things within the Halloween secular “traditions” which actually have Catholic meaning behind them.
Trick or Treating - visiting neighborhood homes asking for candy started as a way to pray for the dead. People would go door to door and promise to pray for the deceased members of a family in exchange for some food.
Costumes - traditionally, people would dress up in costumes on All Hallows' Eve, usually like ghosts or demons, to make fun of evil because they knew that Christ had won the battle over sin and death. Another tradition is that people would dress up in remembrance of the dead when going door to door.
Decorations - it became a tradition to decorate with skulls and other symbols of death to remind us that we will die and must rely on Christ for our salvation.
It is true that Halloween has been badly corrupted and hyper-commercialized just like Christmas and Easter. However, just as that should never stop Catholics from fully celebrating the great feasts of the Church the Catholic way and with best intentions, neither should it stop Catholics from enjoying Halloween as a vigil celebration of the great feast of All Saints' Day. In the same way, we should keep the birth of Christ at the center of Christmas, and the Resurrection of Christ at the center of Easter, we should keep commemorating the dead and praying for the souls in Purgatory the main focus of the beginning of November. “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Amen."
Blessings,
Mrs. Longden
November Virtue - Sincerity
SINCERITY
Saint: St. Thomas More
Aspiration: Come Holy Spirit, increase in me the Gift of Piety
Meaning: Trustfulness in words and actions; honesty and enthusiasm towards others
Prayer: Dear Jesus, Please give me the grace to be honest in all my words and actions. When someone is speaking, give me the patience to listen attentively.
Scripture: John 1:47
Opposing Trait: Speaking or acting in a manner only to make oneself look good; being insincere
Ways to Cultivate: Tell the whole truth; build trust by words and actions; state what one is sorry for
Looks Like/Sounds Like: Pay attention when others are speaking. "May I help you?" Speak and act honestly. Say what you mean. Build trust by your words and actions. State when you are sorry and what you are grateful for.
Mannerisms
- This week … Conversation Starters
- https://youtu.be/8WOQkRQl7nQ
Thank you,
The Catholic Identity Committee
Catholic Schools Walk
Money turned in: $7,207.50
Incentives earned in bold:
$500 Raised - 20 Minutes Extra Recess
$1000 Raised - Bingo Party
$2000 Raised - Pajama Party
$3000 Raised - Ice Cream Party
$5000 Raised - Movie & Popcorn Party
$10,000 Raised - Top 10 students can throw a pie in the face of Mrs. Longden or Father Strand
Please return any money to the school office by tomorrow, November 4th.
You can still donate online through November 15th by going to the following link: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/SCHOOLSWALK/team/HolyTrinity
School Survey
Please send back by November 4th, 2022.
Thank you to those that have already completed the survey.
One item that has come up on a few surveys was acceptable and unacceptable clothing for liturgy days. Please see the attached document with clarification.
Picture Retake
Retake day is scheduled with School and Sport Pics for Tuesday, November 8.
Christmas Concert
Time TBD
Watch for more details.
CONGRATULATIONS Alex and Jessica Herriges
Congratulations to the Herriges family.
Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Missoula Children's Theater
Incoming Freshmen Night
Calendar of Cash
October 27th - Amanda Martin
October 28th - Debbie Baumgartner
October 31st - Jerry Campbell
November 1st - Taylor Schrage
November 2nd - Emily Feucht
Congratulations!
Calendar of Cash 2023-2024
Upcoming Dates
Friday, November 4th - All School Mass
Tuesday, November 8th - Picture Retake Day
Wednesday, November 9th - Mass Grades 1-4
Friday, November 11th - All School Mass
Wednesday, November 16th - Mass Grades 5-8
Friday, November 18th - All School Mass - Baptism Mass (October/November Baptisms)
Tuesday, November 22nd - All School Thanksgiving Prayer Service
Tuesday, November 22nd - End of Trimester 1
Wednesday, November 23rd-25th - No School-Thanksgiving Break
Monday, December 19th - Christmas Concert (Time TBD)
Weather Changes
Purpose of Family Folders
Thanksgiving Community Dinner
St. Dymphna Mental Health Group
Advisory Commission
Safe Environment Education Training
Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is committed to maintaining safe environments for children to learn, pray, and grow. Our Safe Environment Office supports our parishes and schools and maintains the compliance of our archdiocese in our Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal.
Every priest, deacon, parish or school staff member, teacher and lay minister that is employed by a parish or school and any volunteer working with minors in our archdiocese is required to meet three requirements:
1-Attend a Safe Environment Education Session. This is a child abuse and maltreatment prevention program that must be attended in person. The current curriculum taught in this session is Circle of Care by the Archdiocese of Omaha.
2-Pass a Criminal Background Check. This check is done at the start of employment or beginning volunteering with minors and must be done every five (5) years subsequently. The criminal background check is conducted through the CMG Connect portal. The criminal background check reports are reviewed and certified through the collaboration of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Safe Environment Office and parish/school Safe Environment coordinators.
3-Sign the Code of Ethical Standards for Church Leaders Link to Code of Ethical Standards. This code of conduct provides volunteers and employees with expectations and guidelines for how they interact with and conduct themselves in ministry. This code must be signed prior to beginning volunteering or working in a parish or school and is reviewed every five (5) years subsequently.
As Catholics, we are all tasked with participating in ensuring that every child is able to feel safe in our parishes and schools. In addition to our safe environment requirements for adults, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee requires all parish religious education programs and Catholic schools to provide instruction on personal safety and abuse prevention in age-appropriate lessons for all children in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade enrolled in their programs. Parishes and schools are required to annually report their compliance with this requirement.
We invite you to explore what we are doing at the archdiocesan level, at the parish level, and what we ask of every adult in our parishes to do to help us maintain a Safe Environment to remember our past, protect our present and hope for our future.
Holy Trinity Catholic School
Email: holytrinityschool@htschool.net
Website: http://www.htschool.net
Location: 305 Main St Kewaskum, WI 53040
Phone: (262)626-2603