March 4, 2010

Dear Parent/Guardian:

This Sunday’s gospel recounts the story of the fig tree and gardener.  As you recall, the fig tree wasn’t producing any fruit so the master of the garden wanted to have it cut down. The gardener asked the master to allow him to prune and water the tree one more year to see if it would improve in its yield.  I shared this story with the children at our Prayer Service on Monday.  Lent is a wonderful time to prune back some of our bad habits and nurture habits that are pleasing to God.

We are Blest – Two things happened this past Monday that reminded me how blest I am having such wonderful students. The events may seem trivial to you but they made my day. The first event happened right at the beginning of the school day. Every morning when we gather in the gym, I tell the students what is on the lunch menu that is posted in the gym.  But I always forget to post the new menu each month. So for the last 5-6 months, I have looked at Kirstyn Feldhege and said, “Will you go upstairs and ask Cyndy for the lunch menu?’  This Monday, March 1^st, she entered school with a big grin on her face and said, “Ms. Walz, do you want me to go upstairs and get the lunch menu from Cyndy?” It made my day that she took on that initiative!  What would I do without those wonderful helpers!  The second event happened in the afternoon. I had heard this song, “Listen, Lord” when I attended St. Thomas The Apostle Church in Minneapolis. And like any good Catholic School principal, I made a mental note that it would be perfect for the prayer service I was planning for Monday.  I had the words, and the notes, but I knew I needed the music.  I didn’t have any luck searching itunes.  I was determined to use that song.  At lunch I asked for volunteers who would help me lead the song later in the day.  Alyssa Job looked at the notes and started to pluck it out on the piano.  The others joined in singing the song.  Thank you to Alyssa, Chelsea Schroeder, Megan Lahr, Hannah Schreifels, Taeler Jennings, Alyssa Thielen, Josie Donabauer, Olivia Heinen, Hope Schreifels, Alexia Reinhardt for giving up their recess to practice with me!  I got my song!

We truly are blest! – We received an anonymous donation of $7,338.00 to purchase two new Smart Boards and laptop computers.  We are so grateful (and excited) for the generous donation.  I have already put my installation team (Aaron Barker and Marvin Leither) on notice so they are ready when they arrive!

Plantenberg’s Receipts – We have reached the $59,739.18 mark!  Please continue to save them for our school. Thanks!!

Early Out – Students will be dismissed at 1:40 p.m. tomorrow.

Computer Club – Our sixth grade computer club will meet on Saturday, March 6^th at 9:00 a.m.  We should be finished around 1:00 p.m.  Students may bring snacks/lunch to eat!  The group (Nolan Flint, Griffin Rea, Riley Donabauer, Alyssa Job, Leah Spaeth and Emily Wenner) met on Tuesday to plan our next Monday (Tuesday) Morning Minute.  This group is so CREATIVE!  I can’t wait to see the results!

Spaghetti Supper – Don’t forget our Spaghetti Supper on Saturday, March 6^th.  We will be serving from 4:00 p.m – 8:00 p.m.    The profit will go towards the purchase of a new commercial mixer for the kitchen.  PLEASE PASS THE WORD!! Laurel Glisky wrote such a nice article for the Cold Spring Record about the Spaghetti Supper and baking bread at school.  But for reasons unknown to me, it did not get published this week.  That means the word did not get out as far as we wanted it to reach. So please let everyone know about this event.  Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help Laurel.  A special thank you to Paul Weinmann and his Faith Formation class who are volunteering to help us out as a service project. We really appreciate this!

No School – The students will have a VACATION DAY on Monday, March 8^th.  Enjoy!  The teachers and I will have a workshop on Differentiated Instruction.

Parent-Teacher Conferences – Conferences will be held in the school gym on Tuesday, March 9^th and Thursday, March 11^th.

CARNIVAL NEWS

Chance Books  - All Chance Books must be turned in on Thursday, March 11^th.  I am getting a little nervous. We still have lots of chance books in the office. Please send a note to school if you would like more chance books. We make our greatest profit with the chance books so it is important that we sell them all. Thanks!

Card Tables – We are always in need of card tables for our Carnival. Please send a note to school if you can lend us a table. Please drop the tables off  during the week or on Saturday (March 13) morning. Thanks!

5^th & 6^th Grade Workers: Every fifth and sixth grade students is asked to work one shift at the Carnival.  Many of them were already included on the workers lists:  I forgot to add Hannah Schreifels to Cherry Tree/Dice Game and Taeler Jenniges to Wacky Hair.  The following students will help bus tables:  Parents, please remind students. Last year those assigned to this tasks did not show up!  I know this group will do better!!

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Jared Klassen, Zach Heinen

Kallie Schreifels, Naomi Wolf

12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.  Brady Barker, Jordan Barker

Kirstyn Feldhege, Kaitlyn Reinhardt

Friday Preparations – The Chair and Co-Chairs will be using Friday to do final Set-Up preparations.

Cutting Up Chicken – We will be cutting up chicken at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 12^th.  Please send a note to school if you can help out.

Glass Jars – We are in need of quart size glass jars for the carnival.  We use the jars for the soup that we sell. They can be dropped of in the kitchen.

Bars/Pickles – We are in need of bars and pickles for our lunch stand.  Please drop them off in the kitchen.

Cake Spin – We ask that each family donate two cakes to our Cake Spin. They can be dropped off at school on either Saturday or early Sunday morning.

Saturday Set-Up  - We will begin setting up at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 13^th.  We should have the stands up at 10:00 a.m.  It is helpful if the stand chairs come at 10:00 a.m. to put your stands together. Thanks!

Sunday, March 14^th – It’s the Carnival!!  Please check the workers list to be sure you work at your scheduled time.  Together we can make this a successful fundraiser!

Lenten Prayer Service – We will have a Lenten Prayer Service on Monday, March 15^th and Stations of the Cross on Thursday, March 25^th.

Pre-School Cookie Time – Our Pre-School Cookie Time will be held on Tuesday, March 16^th at 2:30 p.m.  I get to be in charge this time!  Please call 597-2565 if your child will be attending.

DINNER THEATRE FUNDRAISER

Bingo Fever – Mark Your Calendars –A dinner and show fundraiser will be held at River Station on Saturday, May 22^nd at 7:00 p.m. for SS. Peter & Paul School.  This will be a wonderful night out for moms & dads. The laughter’s contagious when you catch Bingo Fever!  Leonard and Phyllis Gunderson guide you through this interactive, improv game show complete with audience participation.  That’s right, you’re not going to just watch the show, you’ll be in it! The cost will be $25.00 per person and includes dinner, drink ticket and the show! Check out their website  http://www.glberg.com/bingo_fever/ .  Thank you to Shanna Gerads and Sandy Torborg for organizing this fundraiser.

C.A.P. Day TOMORROW!  - Just a reminder that we will celebrate C.A.P. Day TOMORROW, March 5^th.  Students bringing $1.00 for our godchild, Floridahlma, may wear a cap in school.

Food Shelf – Thank you to everyone who has contributed items to our Food Shelf box. We will collect during the month of March.

No newsletter next week!  We will see you at conferences.

Blessings,

Jacqueline L. Walz