St. Marys School
February Newsletter
Last Thursday my first graders were really excited. We finally got to
put up a snowy tag on the weather graph during math meeting time. The
snow never seemed to be falling at the time we did the weather graph,
which is pretty frustrating for first graders. I made sure we moved the
math meeting along at a fair clip in order to be able to graph the
falling snow. Later that day we had a snow squall and my second graders
were convinced we’d be having an early dismissal. Unfortunately, or
fortunately depending on whether you were a second grader or their
teacher, the “blizzard” only lasted about five minutes.
Speaking of snow, we celebrated Catholic Schools Week the last week of
January. Usually we have a least one snow day during the week, however
this year we managed to have a complete week, albeit we did have some
two-hour delays. Each morning began with a different class leading
morning prayers and the Pledge of Allegiance. On Monday Mayor Bowers
visited the school to proclaim Catholic Schools Week in Greenville. It
was noted in the proclamation the contribution made to the city by our
school. Fr. White led the school in an opening prayer. Each day of the
week had special activities suggested by the student council. On Monday
the entire student body walked, jumped and stomped on rolls of bubble
wrap since Monday was Bubble Wrap Day. We also had Pajama Day and Crazy
Hair and Clothes Day. On Wednesday church bells throughout the
archdiocese rang at 10:00 as part of the celebration. At our school the
eighth graders ring the church bells. This year the preschool through
fourth grade joined in by standing in front of the church ringing small
hand bells. Family members were invited to join the students for lunch
on Monday and Thursday. The children and their families made valentine
cards for residents of local nursing homes. The younger students and
their Big Buddies played Bingo on Friday morning. The day culminated
with a dance. The younger students attended the dance for awhile and
then watched movies in their classrooms. One of our preschool teachers,
Mrs. Blocher invited everyone to stop in her classroom for snow cones.
Many people were very generous in providing treats and supplies to make
this week special for the students. However we would like to say a
special thanks to Judy Francis and PAWS Bingo for lending the school a
popcorn machine and donating the popcorn and the supplies for the Bingo
game. One special event had to be postponed due to weather. Originally
Friday morning, we were going to have Special Person Day. Students had
invited special people, who were not their parents, to attend Mass with
them. After Mass, a reception had been planned. Unfortunately, Friday
was one of the days that we had a two-hour delay due to the weather.
Special Person Day has been rescheduled for April 10.
February 3 was St. Blaise’s feast day on which Catholics traditionally
have their throats blessed. We ask St. Blaise to pray that we are
spared from ailments of the throat. The students attended a prayer
service that day during which they received the blessing.
On February 6 the Limelighters from Sidney-Lehman High School put on a
performance for the school. It was a very enjoyable program. The
Limelighters are a show choir. The kindergarten girls were especially
impressed with the sequined dresses worn by the young ladies in the
group. Students were invited to dance along with the performers. We
have some pretty awesome dancers here at St. Mary’s.
The Winter Sports Assembly was held at the Greenville Junior High
School. Among the athletes honored were the following from St. Mary’s:
Tyler Beyke, Hunter Drew, Jacob Goldsmith, and Joseph Edwards.
The Preschool through fourth grades celebrated Valentine’s Day on
Friday, the 13th, making it a not so unlucky day. The children
exchanged valentines with their buddy and classmates and had classroom
parties in the afternoon.
On February 17, we will celebrate Mardi Gras. The children will enjoy a
treat of King Cake and in the afternoon will bury the Alleluia.
Symbolically burying the Alleluia is an old Christian tradition that
reminds us that we are entering a solemn period of repentance. As part
of our ceremony, the children carry Alleluia Banners through the school
and we gather in the church basement. Before the Alleluia is “buried”
for one minute the children make as much noise as possible. Then the
banners are rolled up and placed in a box. After a short prayer all
depart in silence, a silence which is kept until school is dismissed.
Lent begins the next day. Lent comes from an old word meaning spring.
Hopefully spring is just around the corner.
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