August 30, 2010
Dear St. Germaine families,
Welcome to what is sure to be an exciting, rewarding school year. We have been very busy over the summer planning and preparing for the upcoming year. Many improvements have been made throughout the school building including new textbooks and many technology updates. We welcome many new students, and we are READY! We also welcome a new addition to our faculty! Miss Emily Pearson, our new second grade teacher, will join forces with Mrs. Spooner. We were sorry to learn of Ms. Lathrop’s departure, however, we are confident that Miss Pearson will fill her shoes well! Again, on behalf of all faculty and staff, we thank you for making the choice and sacrifices necessary to provide a Catholic education for your child(ren) at St. Germaine Catholic School. We look forward to working with you.
- Many forms will be coming home today. Please read them, complete them, and return them to school by Wednesday, September 1—these forms are necessary for our files. Thank you.
- A healthy morning snack, lunch, and a drink for your child(ren) must be provided until our hot lunch program begins on September 21. Hot lunch orders will come home September 7 and are due on the 9th.
- Booster Club news: Our fall Morley sale and our annual Entertainment book sale begins today—please participate by selling or purchasing as many items as possible. Entertainment books are $20--if each family sells just 3 books we could earn over $5,000. Market Day pick-up day is September 16. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and participation.
- Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, August 31 through Wednesday, September 1, students in grades 1-8 will have full days of school in full uniform with a 3:20 dismissal (Kindergarten at 11:30 a.m.). Don’t forget to pack a lunch!
- Back to school night for grades Kindergarten through eighth will be held on Tuesday, September 7 in church at 6:30 p.m. After general information is shared and introductions are made, you will visit your child’s classrooms and receive more specific information from their teacher. This is a parent-only event—plan on 1 – 1 ½ hours.
- Festival news: Volunteers for festival are becoming more and more difficult to find—please remember that each family is required to volunteer a minimum of 6 hours for festival (3 hours for partial day students). Our games tent chair people had an idea that each grade chair (chairing really only means that you find the volunteers to fill the time slots for the weekend) a game in the games tent…if anyone is interested in taking this on, please contact Shannon Johnson at 586-977-6907.
- Please be advised that if you intend on chaperoning field trips, coaching, or might ever be in a situation where you will be responsible for children other than your own at a school-sponsored function, you MUST attend a Protecting God’s Children workshop. Contact our office for more information or register online at www.virtus.org.
Here’s a look at our first week:
Monday, August 30 WELCOME BACK! Half day dismissal
Morley sale and Entertainment book sale begins
Tuesday, August 31 Mass at 8:30 a.m.
Full day of school—full uniform—dismiss at 3:20 p.m.
Preschool Parent meeting in the preschool room at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, September 1 ALL SCHOOL FORMS ARE DUE
Full day of school—full uniform—dismiss at 3:20 p.m.
Have a wonderful first week.
Blessings!
Mrs. DeGrez
Prayer for the New School Year
We give you praise, O God,
for everything that is new and beautiful,
for everything which holds promise and brings us joy.
Bless us as we start this new year
with our friends and teachers
Help us to make the most of every chance we have to start afresh.
May we show love to one another and to all.
May the new beginning of this school year
remind us that you give us chances to start over again and again.
Help us to forgive others as we receive your forgiveness.
Help us to learn and to work together.
Help us to listen when we should
and to know the best words when we speak
and when it is better not to speak.
We thank you for our friends~
Help us to be good friends this year.
Help us to be patient with ourselves and with others.
Bless our school and keep us safe.
Be with us as we travel each day.
Help us to be aware of your love shown to us in the people around us.
Bless all those who care for us in school and
at home.
Help us show our care for them and to say
sorry when we need to.
May St. Germaine protect us
and help us to live as well as we can
giving thanks and glory to God.
Volunteer opportunities (contact school office for more information):
- Help promote our school by “Word of Mouth,” use your “Proud Parent” cards.
- Join Booster Club and/or Men’s Club--Men's Club needs help with their golf outing on June 12...
- Assist with Baptisms, funeral luncheons, wedding rehearsals, and/or church cleaning
- Join our Strategic Planning Committee. Contact Mike Preece at
Mpreece@teachoutsecurity.com for more information.
Dear Lord, I thank You for this day.
I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear You. Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.
I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately.
I thank You that I believe. I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them.
God, I love you and I need you, please remain in my heart.
(received via email from a friend)