Monday News 12/4

St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic School

Monday News

December 4, 2017

 

“Advent is a journey towards Bethlehem.

May we let ourselves be drawn by the light of God made man.”

~Pope Francis

 

Message from Principal Angie Krauss:

 

Dear Families,

 

I am excited that the Advent season has begun which is such a holy and joyous time of year when we take time to reflect on the birth of Christ. I am impressed with the discussions and activities that are taking place in the classrooms explaining this season.

 

We will start our school wide Advent prayer on Tuesday beginning at 8:45. After Tuesday, Advent prayer will begin at 8:35. Please know if you arrive late that the front entrance will be filled with students singing and participating in prayer. I encourage parents that can to stay and join us for this faith filled time.

 

I am really looking forward to our ELC Christmas program on Wednesday being held at the school. Please check with your child’s teacher on the time their performance begins that day, times vary depending on classroom.

 

I know it is tempting to get caught up in the “busyness” of the season and focus on the tasks that accompany the holidays, but I encourage each of us to stay tuned in to the “true reason for the season.” Jesus Christ was born in such humble circumstances so each of us can experience his transformative love. I pray that we will all be touched by it and share it with others this holiday season.

 

In Christ’s Peace,

Angie Krauss

 

ELC Information:

 

Teddy Bears: This week we will set up our Christmas tree and finger paint with green paint.

 

Chickadees: This week in Chickadees we are making a class Christmas tree for the bulletin board. We are working on our Christmas presents, and will have our Christmas program on Wednesday at 2:00.

 

Owls: This week in preschool we will begin sharing the story of the first Christmas. We will begin at the beginning when the angel visited Mary telling her she would be the mother of Jesus. We will read stories from the Bible and discuss how God sent Angels to spread the news of Jesus’ birth.

 

Blue Jays: This week we will be talking about Christmas/Advent. We also are having our Christmas program on Wednesday.

 

Hawks: This week the Hawks will focus on practicing our Christmas songs. We will also take down our tepee, to make way for a Christmas house in our dramatic play area. Finally, we will celebrate St. Nicholas Day by making paper stockings.

 

Tigers: This week we will be preparing for our Christmas program and Advent. Our dramatic play area will transform into a Christmas house, and we will begin working on a special art project!

 

Montessori East: Montessori East’s topic of discussion will be Advent. Our Christmas Program will be on Wednesday, Dec. 6th. Our class needs to meet in our classroom at 4:55 pm. We sing at 5:10pm. Please allow enough time for you to find parking. Children should dress in their Sunday best clothes.

 

Montessori West: will be exploring and discussing Advent

 

ALL-SCHOOL: Mark your Calendars:

Dec 6th- ELC/Mont Christmas Program- more info to come

Dec 8th- Immaculate Conception Mass- 12:15 at St. Al’s Church

Dec 13th- K-8th Christmas Program- More info to come

Dec 14th- Advent Reconciliation

Dec 20-Jan 2nd- Christmas Break- ELC/School Closed Dec 25th-Jan 2nd

Jan 3rd- School Resumes

 

Important Notes & Reminders:

Lunch Menu Change for Dec, 5th: Tomorrow’s lunch has changed to Teriyaki Beef Dippers.

GU Dance Team 17th Annual Kids Clinic: Everyone welcome ages 4-18, learn a dance with the Gonzaga Dance Team & perform during halftime at the Women’s Basketball game. Please see attached flyer for more information.

 

Attention 4th through 8th graders: Do you love Christmas songs? Do you love to sing? St. Aloysius Parish is putting together a Children’s Choir to join the 5pm Christmas Eve Mass and invites you to sing! The three short rehearsals follow the 11am Sunday Mass for the three Sundays in Advent. Hope to see you there! Questions? Contact our Music Director, Andrea Timm, at atimm@dioceseofspokane.org<mailto:atimm@dioceseofspokane.org>.

Rehearsal Schedule: 12/03 12:15-1:00 pm, 12/10 12:15-1:00 pm, 12/17 12:15-1:00 pm, 12/24 4:15 pm

 

Mission Advancement:

Building the Future Capital Campaign:

We have already raised $63,200 of our $600,000 goal to Cross The Phase 2 Finish Line! Please continue to pray for generous support of our mission and our campaign. Thank you!

* Cross the Phase 2 Finish Line! GIVE TODAY at www.stalsschool.org<http://stals.wpengine.com> and help us reach our $600,000 goal! For more information, please contact Cami Carlson at 489-7825 x238 or ccarlson@dioceseofspokane.org<mailto:ccarlson@dioceseofspokane.org>.

 

Annual Appeal – Kids Under Construction

So far, we have raised $1425 for our KIDS UNDER CONSTRUCTION annual appeal! Please consider a year-end gift for our annual fund to support our “kids under construction” and share the St. Al’s spirit! Thank you in advance for your generosity!

DID YOU KNOW??? Cabinets and countertops were installed last week! We love progress!

 

WE STILL HAVE Christmas Cards For Sale!

We love our partnership with the Knights of Columbus #15143 – St. Aloysius Parish Council! The Knights support our school in a multitude of ways every year. This year, the Knights of Columbus used the 2016 Keep Christ In Christmas Poster Contest winning student designs to create beautiful Christmas cards! There are nine AWESOME student creations in each set of cards. The set of 9 cards is on sale now for $10! All proceeds will benefit our incredible visual and performing arts programs! You can purchase your cards at the upstairs front desk with Mrs. Kelly. Please complete the attached order form and submit it with payment (cash or check). We have 45 sets on hand now, and we can order more! Purchase your cards today!

Send Us Your Pictures

Please share your pictures you take at sporting events or any fun St. Al’s moments that you capture. We will gladly share them on our social media!

 

Auction News:

We have our first 2 Hope Sponsors for the auction!

 

The date of the auction is February 2, 2018. Mark your calendars now!

 

Our 3nd auction meeting is on December 5th at 5:30pm.

All St. Al’s families are asked to donate to the auction. Our partnership with parents enables this event to be our most successful fundraiser of the year.

Ways to Donate/Procure Items:
Become an Auction Sponsor! You can do this by filling out the attached Auction 2018 Sponsorship Opportunities page and returning it to school.
Purchase merchandise worth $100 retail value and donate it to the school.

Family Basket Challenge: donate a completed theme basket, filled, wrapped and ready for display.
Procure/Ask for donations from local businesses you frequent.
If you are unable to do any of the above, simply pay $50 to the school c/o Auction.
Family donations turned in by December 11th, 2017, will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a $200 tuition credit.
The drawing will take place December 12th, 2017.

 

Follow us on Instagram @ st.alsgonzaga Share your photos and St. Al’s stories with Anne Hesler at ahesler@dioceseofspokane.org<mailto:ahesler@dioceseofspokane.org> .

 

Follow us on Facebook “St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic School Spokane”

Share our stories on Facebook. Help us spread the word of what is happening here at St. Al’s.

 

Volunteer Hours:

Volunteer Hour Summaries will be coming home with your child today. Please email Aleisha Webb at awebb@dioceseofspokane.org<mailto:awebb@dioceseofspokane.org> if you did not receive one or if you have a question about your hours.

 

Reminder: If you are coaching a sport please indicate which sport you are coaching. If recording in any of the “other” categories, please leave a description at the bottom of the page. Hours will not be accepted until clarified. Thank you!

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Christmas Program

* Cookie Social:Please join us immediately following the Christmas Program for a cookie social in the cafeteria.

* Baking for volunteer hours: If you are interested in bringing cookies in for the Cookie Social please have them delivered to school by 9am on Wednesday, December 13th.

* 2 dozen cookies=1 Volunteer Hour.

* STILL IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS: With the Christmas program just a week away, I would like to let you know about some opportunities to volunteer. I will need volunteers to help set-up risers at about 9am on Tuesday, December 12th and then tear down later that afternoon (time TBD). In addition, I will need the same help on Wednesday, December 13th about 9am to set-up. Tear down and clean up will be after the Christmas program. Please be aware, the risers are quite heavy and require lifting. If you are interested in helping out please email me at awebb@dioceseofspokane.org.<mailto:awebb@dioceseofspokane.org>

Amazon Smile: Remember when doing your holiday shopping this season to log in to smile.amazon.com<https://smile.amazon.com/> before you do your online shopping! Follow these simple instructions:

· Please go to smile.amazon.com
<http://smile.amazon.com>· Login with your standard Amazon username and password
· Search “St. Aloysius Spokane”
· Select “St. Aloysius Parish and School”
-OR-
· Enter this link in your browser to be asked automatically if you want to support St. Aloysius Parish and School on
AmazonSmile: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1433780

Please note: Amazon Smile is not supported on the app. The only way to do it is online. Then, every time you shop online, start at smile.amazon.com<https://smile.amazon.com/> and support our school! It’s fast, easy, and very much appreciated! Please email Aleisha Webb at awebb@dioceseofspokane.org with any questions you may have.

Auction:

There are many ways you can help out with the auction! Here are a few examples:

* Decorations

* Technology

* Silent Auction

* Backroom

* Procurement

* Set Up Crew

* Clean Up Crew

Volunteering:

With this auction being our first “on site” event in the new gym, there will be A LOT of work getting everything set up and ready to go for the big night. We will need a couple of different crews. We will need one that will help with setting up tables, chairs, staging, etc. We will also need a crew that will help with decorating tables, silent auction tables, etc. Set-up will be on Thursday, February 1st starting at 8:45am (after drop off) until we are done!

If you are interested in helping out with the auction in any way, please email Aleisha Webb at awebb@dioceseofspokane.org<mailto:awebb@dioceseofspokane.org> or at 509-489-7825 ext. 244

Box Tops and Labels for Education:

Keep the Box Tops coming! Here are a few ways to collect Box Tops on top of the ones you find on participating products:

* The app offers bonus Box Tops and exclusive deals! The products listed will earn our school anywhere from 2-5 bonus Box Tops. For more information or to download go to http:www.boxtops4education.com/bonusapp<http://www.boxtops4education.com/bonusapp>

* In addition to earning our school bonus Box Tops, you can also save money at the same time. Here is the link to the current coupons available on the Box Tops website.

* https://www.boxtops4education.com/coupons

STAG Pride/Kudos/Prayers:

* Please pray for all of us as we enter the season of Advent, may be find peace as we prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ.

* We pray for peace in our world, may our leader’s decision be guided by the Holy Spirit.