TO: Parents/Guardians of SVS

FROM: Sister Cherree

RE: Week of February 21 - 24

 

Missionary Visit

Once again our diocese is making plans for the visitation of missionaries to the schools in our diocese. Over the years these visits have allowed faithful and dedicated men and women, who have spent years of service to the poor in missions throughout the world, to share their wisdom and experiences and love of God’s children with our students. I’m very happy that Sister Ellen Anderson, a Missionary Sister of the Holy Rosary, will be with us on Tuesday and Wednesday. You may recall that Sister Ellen was here a few years ago, and our students were really caught up in her missionary spirit and enthusiasm.

 

Ash Wednesday

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22 nd. Ashes are blessed during Mass, after the homily and the blessed ashes are then placed on our foreheads as a sign of conversion, penance, and fasting. Young children are usually happy to receive ashes. We can tell them simply that ashes are placed on our foreheads to remind us that someday we will die and go home to heaven. We need to explain it a little more deeply for older children, going into the origin and significance of the day.

 

Lenten Sacrifice Beans

I read about an activity you may want to use in your family this Lent. A wonderful way to help younger children remind them to do penance during Lent, lima beans in a jar record each Lenten sacrifice.

Directions

It is hard to keep track of this treasure that is laid in Heaven if you are quite small and six weeks drag out like six years. We have made this part of the effort visible for the children so that they might see that they were accomplishing something. On or about Ash Wednesday, we dye lima beans purple to be used as counters in a jar. Beans, because they are seeds which, if put in the ground, appear to die only to spring forth with new life. This is what Our Lord said we must do if we would have life in Him. He that seems to lose his life shall gain it. The beans remind us that daily death to self in one self-denial after another is the dying which will find for us new life in Him.

 

Lent

As I was preparing for a meeting with our Apostles of the Resurrection I was reading a letter that the Coordinator of the Apostles had written to them. In her reflections Sr. Alexandra shared that o rdinarily when we think about Lent, we think “Great, I’ll go on a diet and hopefully lose weight. So I won’t eat cakes and candy.”  This reminded Sister about a story of a priest who was returning to his rectory one dark night after visiting one of his sick parishioners in the hospital. He was a stopped by a robber who pulled out a gun and demanded: “Your money or your life.” As the priest reached into his inner pocket, the robber saw his Roman collar and said: “I see you are a priest. Never mind, you can go.” The priest was surprised by this response, and wanting to show that he appreciated the “favor” of not being killed, remembered that he had a candy bar in his pocket and offered it to the robber. The robber replied, “No thanks, Father, I don’t eat candy during Lent.” 

 

“How many people see Lent as a time for “giving up” certain foods, television shows, movies, as if this was all that Lent signifies? Lent however, is really an invitation from God who loves us unconditionally to seek Him more intensely, to make ourselves  more available to Him, to ask ourselves: “How can I best use these next forty days to draw closer to Jesus?” Lent offers us a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, rooted in our baptism. It gives us the opportunity to reflect upon the path our life has taken, to pray more, to ask forgiveness for our failure to live a truly Christian life and to be more generous to those in need.”

 

“The Church reminds us that when the Priest makes the Sign of the Cross on our forehead with Ashes as we begin Lent, he is inviting us to consider three special helps to our total transformation: PRAYER, FASTING AND CHARITY (ALMSGIVING): to seek the Lord more deeply in the time we have for prayer; besides certain foods, to fast from our moodiness, anger, impatience, sharp tongue; to look for opportunities to share what we have with others in need. We need to take time to make Lent a grace-filled time, drawing us closer to the God who loves us and desires to be our ALL.”

 

I take the liberty of quoting Sr. Alexandra’s letter because first of all, she’s on retreat and I can’t ask her first, J ; secondly I know she wouldn’t mind; thirdly, she’s a friend and sister, and I know she would share her words of wisdom!

 

You may want to read the Holy Father’s Lenten Message, which you can find online.

 

 Standardized Tests

In two weeks our students will be taking the Terra Nova Standardized Tests. I always remind parents that students can’t really study for these tests; however students can choose to do well. So, let’s think about it a little. True or false: standardized tests are tough. The answer depends on how prepared your child is. Here are four ways to help him/her handle test week.

1. Explain that the tests will show how much he/she has learned. Encourage the child to try his/her best, but don’t put so much emphasis on them that the child feels stressed.
2. Practice the test format. Teachers will also be doing this in class. For example, your child might have to read a paragraph and answer questions. Using one of his textbooks, have him look at the questions at the end of a section first and then read the passage. That will help him know what to read for and how to find the answers.
3. Limit activities the night before tests. You may want to avoid having guests for dinner or skip his brother’s basketball game if it means being out late. Be sure your child gets to bed on time.
4. On test days, give him and energy-boosting breakfast. Try to include both protein (eggs, yogurt, milk) and carbohydrates (fruit, oatmeal, toast).

 

Bus Safety Issues

In light of some of the bus accidents that have occurred in our area lately, we met with our entire student body on Tuesday morning to address the issue of Bus Safety. We ask that you, too, please have a discussion with your child/ren and perhaps use some of these tips:

ON THE BUS :

• Go directly to a seat. Remain seated and facing forward for the entire ride.
• Talk quietly (so the driver will not be distracted).
• If you need to talk to the bus driver: wait for the bus to stop, raise your hand, and call the driver's name.
• Never throw things on the bus or out the windows. Never play with the emergency exits.
• Never put your head, arms, or hands out the window of the bus.
• Keep the aisles clear at all times.
• If there is an emergency, listen to the driver and follow instructions.
• At the stop, wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before walking to the front.