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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