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St. Mary’s School - April Newsletter

There are signs of Easter and new life all around the school. After the solemnity of Lent I must say it is a delightful change. Several weeks before Easter, we had some extra time during music, so we decided to go over some Easter hymns. Somehow I managed to choose the hymns with the maximum amount of Alleluias possible. After assuring the children that it was OK to sing Alleluia during Lent if you were practicing for Easter, they sang with gusto. After we had finished, one of my first graders looked at me and said, “Boy that felt good!” I couldn’t have agreed more.

Due to some of the wintry weather we had earlier in the year, we went to school during most of Holy Week. Each day, the staff and students participated in special prayer services. On Monday, we had a washing of the feet, during which the teachers washed the feet of their students. On Tuesday we had a bread breaking ceremony in each of the classrooms. Older students led the younger ones in prayer. Each person took a turn naming something for which he wished to thank God. Then all shared a loaf of bread. On Wednesday, we had veneration of the Cross. A large crucifix was set up near the office so the staff and students could reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice and make some sign of respect and gratitude, such as a genuflection. On Thursday each class spent some time in church visiting with Jesus.

Appropriately, it was during Holy Week, that my class’ and the kindergarten class’ eggs hatched. Each class had an incubator and eggs to care for from the Darke County Extension Office. We usually do this project around Easter. Besides being a wonderful science lesson, hatching chicks are a wonderful sign of new life. In my class we even had what you might call an Easter miracle. On the official hatch day, four of our eleven eggs hatched. When we returned the next day, we had four more. Now in all the years that I have hatched chickens, the second hatching day is the last. On the third day, the children were really excited because the baby chicks would be old enough to hold. When I got to school that morning, I decided to unplug the incubator so as not to waste electricity. I went down to the office and when I returned I was greeted by some very excited children in the hall. They said we had two more chicks. I didn’t believe them, because after all I had glanced into the incubator. Well, guess what! I was wrong. There was one little chick who had been huddling in the corner and another just breaking out of his egg. It reminded me of the first Easter morn. I imagine the women who went to Jesus’ tomb were as surprised as I was, finding life where they expected none.

We are currently busy preparing for the third annual St. Mary’s Spring Spectacular on April 27. The theme this year for the room sized diorama is ”A Tribute to Mary”. The older students have been working on stained glass windows. The staff has also been making a stained glass window. Younger students are making stepping stones. Along with the diorama, students’ art work will be displayed on both floors of the school. The science fair will be set up

in the cafeteria and the fifth through eighth grade students will be on hand to explain their projects. The evening will open at 6:30 with a musical performance by the “St. Mary’s Cherub Choir” otherwise known as the kindergarten through fourth graders. The event is opened to the public. The musical portion will be in the church. The art show and science fair will follow immediately at the school. If you are unable to come on Monday, you may view the exhibits after the Masses on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday April 26. Please come and join us.

The Etta Mae Foley Memorial Dinner and Auction was April 11. Thank you to those who helped to make the dinner and auction a success. We would like to thank the businesses, merchants, and people who donated items for the auction, and those who supported us by coming to the auction. We would especially like to thank the Foley Family for their generosity in providing the meal and to Carie Pope and Katie Rammel for co-chairing this event, which is our largest fund raiser. It was a great success. We raised $24,000 for the school.

Kindergarten screening was April 10. It is not too late to enroll your child in kindergarten. Please call the school at 548-2345 and we will be happy to set up a screening for your child.


 
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