Thursday, January 12, 2012

“Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:  The Gartlan Family on the death of Olivia’s Grandmother Marge Gartlan and Great-Aunt Irene Sulima; Fr. Jim’s family; Terri Juricic’s brother Ray Pleski; Mary Kate O’Hare’s Grandmother Margarita Romero; Donna Pelletier; Rich Hass; Terry MacLean; Cindy MacFarland; Doug Houston; all of our school families; our faculty, staff, and students; all those in need of God’s healing touch; and for all of your special intentions.

MASS:  Mass, tomorrow has been planned by our 2^nd graders.  All are welcome to join us. 

CHILI COOK-OFF:  Raffle tickets for the chili cook-off are on sale in the school office.  Tickets are $20 a piece for a chance to win $1000.00.  Winner need not be present but you don’t want to miss this fun adult event.  Mark your calendars for January 28, 2012.  Chili Cook-off begins at 6:00 pm in the Activity Center at St. Irene.  Lots of raffles, silent auction items, great food, and of course, chili!  The drawing for the cash raffle will be held that evening. 

WINTER IS UPON US:  I guess this comes as no surprise to anyone but the weather is starting to remind us that winter is reallyhere.  Please send your children to school dressed warmly for the day.  Junior high seems to think it is 80 degrees at times.  We do use the whole campus and the children do go outside for recess (weather permitting).  However, they also go to PE classes, art, music, lunch, etc., and they need to be dressed appropriately for the weather.  Thank you.

EMERGENCY CLOSING INFORMATION:  It is that time of the year again to remind everyone of the procedures and communication that occur surrounding any type of emergency closing; specifically for this time of the year, weather related closings.  In the event our school closes, it will be posted on the emergency closing site.  You can access that by going to their public website at:  http://www.emergencyclosingcenter.com/complete.htmland search for the facility by typing the name and city or by the main phone number of the school. You can also sign up to receive an automatic email from the emergency closing center on this website. Parents who have done this get information very quickly.  You can call 847-238-1234 and enter the main phone number of the facility (St. Irene School = 630-393-9303). You can also listen to WGN Radio 720-AM or watch CBS Ch.2, NBC Ch.5, ABC Ch.7, FOX Ch.32, WGN-TV or CLTV cable for closing information.  Our webmasters will send out a mass email, much like you receive this newsletter.  Hopefully, we won’t have to use this, but just in case!

SPELLING BEE:  This year, St. Irene will be participating in Scripps National Spelling Bee Contest.  The spelling bee will take place in grades 1 – 8.  Grade level spelling bees will take place after Christmas during the first two weeks of January.  First and second place winners from each grade will then participate in a school level spelling bee during Catholic Schools Week, January 30 – February 3^rd.  Thank you to Mrs. Gettelman for coordinating this new event and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact her. 

SCIENCE FAIR JUDGES NEEDED!  (the following is from Mrs. Maggie Detwiler)

We are coming to that time of year again!!

I am extremely proud of all the work that our students have done, and are continuing to do.  As we are nearing the end of our journey, we are once again in need of judges for our local science fair on January 27^th, 2012.

Science fair is rewarding for our students because they can show off all the hard work they have put into their projects as well as all the new knowledge they have gained through their research and experimentation.  Judging science fair is also rewarding for the judges because you know that you are helping to encourage students to research and inquire about the world around them.  You do not need a science background to judge, just an inquisitive mind and a sense of fairness.

We will meet at 8:00 a.m. in Room 8 for a pre-science fair meeting, and hopefully finish by 12:30 p.m.  I am hoping to get about 22 judges, so if you are interested, please sign up using the form below.  If you have any questions about judging, please feel free to call me or email me.  Thanks for all your continued help and support!
 
                                                                                    Sincerely,
                                                                                    Maggie Detwiler
 

 
 
_________Yes, I can help judge the science fair.
 
 
_________ I cannot help with judging, but I would like to sign up to bring a breakfast type item for the judges.
 
Name___________________________________________________
 
Phone___________________________________________________
 
Email___________________________________________________
Please return this Science Fair form by Friday, January 13^th, 2012.
 

ANNUAL APPEAL:  The St. Irene School Board is looking for parent volunteers to stuff 

and mail envelopes for the school’s annual appeal campaign. If you can volunteer for this effort, please contact Eric Fladeland at home: 630-527-8819 or via email: 

eric_fladeland@wowway.com.   

The annual appeal needs to be sent out very soon so please contact Eric before Friday, January 13, 2012.

MARKET DAY:  How would you like to win a $10 Market Day gift card?  Starting in January 2012 and continuing through May 2012, St. Irene’s parent organization PACE (Parents Active in Catholic Education) will be drawing one winner from everyone who orders and pays for their Market Day on-line.  It’s that easy!

Paying on-line makes pick-up day quick & easy!  Stop in, grab your order and you’re out the door.  Helps make a busy Saturday less stressful.  Just go to www.marketday.com and when placing your order click “credit card.”  Pay with your Discover, Master Card and Visa credit or debit card.  Questions?  Contact Angela Rexer at 630.276.6059 (Please leave a message if not available.)
Thank you for your continued support of Market Day.

TECHNOLOGY UPDATE:  We have been blessed to have three donors who have answered our request for technology angels.  No donation is too small.  We will now be able to purchase two more pieces of equipment!  Thank you to our donors.  Two of the donors are parents of students who walked these halls many years ago, and one is a family who just started to come to church at St. Irene and who saw the ad in the bulletin and wanted to help out.  We are so grateful.
 
ACRE TEST:  Students in grades 5 and 8 will be taking the ACRE (Assessment of Catechesis Religious Education) test this year as a Diocesan requirement sponsored by NCEA (National Catholic Education Association).  The test measures faith formation.  This test will be administered early in February.
 
WE GET LETTERS: 

Dear Mrs. White,
On behalf of the Christmas Sharing volunteers, Nancy and I want to give our most sincere THANK YOU to you, your great staff, inspired teachers, wonderful students and their families for your excellent support of this past year’s Christmas Sharing program.  This has been a year of great need and you all helped make this Christmas a little merrier.  With your help, we served over 160 Warrenville families.  They were offered warm winter coats, clothing, certificates for food, a frozen turkey, a canned ham, Christmas stockings and toys for the children.  Without support from the schools in Warrenville and Wheaton, we simply could not offer this program to the community.  Best wishes for another great school year.
Frank and Nancy Olufs, and all of the Christmas Sharing Volunteers

8^TH GRADERS/HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAM:  Visit the high schools’ websites for more information regarding their programs.  Eighth grade parents:  Please mark your calendar for January 14, 2012 as the Catholic High School Entrance Exam Date. 

ATTENTION 8^TH GRADE PARENTS:  The application for the Kazma Scholarship is now available.  Any 8^th grade student who is planning on attending a Catholic high school is eligible to apply for this scholarship.  There are 25 scholarships awarded each year in our Diocese.  The link for the application is: http://www.dioceseofjoliet.org/edfoundation/tuitionassistdetails1.asp#scholarship
Please check all high schools for other scholarship opportunities.  Many of our graduates qualified for and have been awarded many scholarships over the years.  It is well worth the effort. 

BAND MEMBERS:  Calling all  6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade band students.  St. Francis High School is hosting a “Pep Band Night” on Saturday, February 4, 2012.  Not only do you get to perform with the St. Francis High School band at the basketball game, you also get a Pep Band shirt, free food, and 2 free guest tickets to the game!  Email Mr. Bob Mamminga, Band Director, at rmamminga@sfhsnet.org for more information and to register for this exciting event!

HAND WASHING:  The Preschool and Kindergarten classes have completed the annual hand washing program.  Please review the written steps for proper hand washing which were sent home with your child last week.  Your student can also tell you other ways to stay healthy, such as eating healthy foods, drinking plenty of water, fresh air and exercise, and of course, washing your hands!  Let’s make the New Year a healthy one!

CAMPBELL SOUP LABELS: To help our school earn even more points, you can register your Jewel and Dominick’s preferred cards.  Go to “Labelsforeducation.com” and click on “An easier way to earn points” and sign up.  Every point that we can get helps our school.  We can earn points just for registering.  Thanks so much.

PLEASE SEE THE CALENDAR BELOW FOR IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES/EVENTS/TIMES:

January Calendar
 

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