Nothing But Compliments
I heard nothing but compliments from parishioners at the 9:00 Mass today. They were so excited about having the JFK 7th/8th grade choir sing at Mass!
November & December Special Dates
There’s so much happening in November and December, I can’t list it all! For a complete list, please check our website calendars. Please also check backpack mail for information that is grade or homeroom specific.
- Nov 19: Skate Night at the Eldridge skate park, 6:00-8:00 p.m. (Superhero theme)
- Nov 21: No classes. ECLC open
- Nov 22-23: No classes. ECLC closed.
- Nov 25: Advent Adult Bible Study begins. Rejoice! Advent Meditations with Mary
- Nov 30: JFK/AHS Spirit Out of Uniform Day
- Dec 1: Drop-Off Movie, 4:00 – 7:00 (Hotel Transylvania 3 on new JUMBO inflatable screen. Cost: $10 per student if registered by 11/27; $15 per student at the door.
- Dec 2: First Sunday of Advent. Begin Advent with Communal Penance at Sacred Heart in the evening.
- Dec 3: Communal Penance at St. John Vianney. Couldn’t make it to Sacred Heart on the 2nd? Here’s another community opportunity.
- Dec 4: Reconciliation for JFK students in grades 3-8 during the day. First Reconciliation for 2nd graders in the evening.
- Dec 6: 5th/6th grade Christmas show
- Dec 7: Feast of the Immaculate Conception Vigil Mass, 7:00 p.m.
- Dec 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Holy Day of Obligation).
- Dec 10: Civic Oration classroom round. Skate Night.
- Dec 11: Band concert
- Dec 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe All School Mass. 2nd round of Civic Oration. AHS Information Knight
- Dec 13: 3 Yr Old PS Family Activity (No 3 yr old PS classes)
- Dec 14: 4 Yr Old PS Show and Activity (No 4 yr old PS classes)
- Dec 17: 3rd grade Gingerbread Houses (A tradition you’ll all remember!)
- Dec 18: Civic Oration PC Rnd (which will really be in the gym this year). K-2 Christmas Show
- Dec 19: K-2 Christmas Show for the school after our 7:40 a.m. all school Mass. Red/Green/White/Christmas attire. Special Dismissal at 12:40. No afternoon PS classes.
- Dec 20-Jan 2: Christmas Break
- Jan 3: Classes resume
Mock Trial
I wasn’t able to make the competition this Saturday, but I did see one of the trial practices. I understand there were some students who will receive individual attorney or witness awards! Members of our two teams are below:
- 6th Grade (in alphabetical order): Aidyn A., Will A., Cleary C., Brian C., Ava D., Ethan M., and John W.
- 7th Grade (in alphabetical order): Elexa A., Brynn B., Sean B., Rylie D., Delaney S., and Owen W.
- 8th Grade (in alphabetical order): Adie C., Delaney E., Xander P., and Mary R.
Scouting Report
I was able to attend two of the 8th grade girls’ volleyball games today. The girls just keep getting better and better over the years! I think the staff could be in trouble again during our annual 8th grade vs. staff volleyball games during Catholic Schools Week!
Need the Bulletin?
When I don’t get a hard copy bulletin at church, I always think that I’ll just go look it up online. Then, it seems as if I rarely do. Here’s the link: November 18, 2018.
Do You Have a Perfectionist Teen?
Read this flyer from the National Catholic Educational Association to help you determine if you have a perfectionist teen who is dealing with anxiety and what you can do about it. I loved the qualifier they had on one of the descriptors: “The teen who does most things absolutely perfectly (cleanliness of their room seldom falls in this category, sorry!).” Read the article here: Helping Perfectionist Teens, NCEA Nov 2018
How About a Teen (or Younger Child) on Either Side of this Type of Situation with Social Media?
What an interesting blog post on how cell phones and social media have changed the landscape, and why we should try to limit their use. Click here to read the story: Comparing 2008 with 2018.
With so many of my accounts having notifications going right to my own smartphone, I also decided to put some limits on them this fall. I was finding myself feeling anxious every time my phone made some sort of noise!
Assumption Knight Players Present Miss Nelson is Missing!
- December 7: 6:00 p.m. and December 8: 2:00 p.m.
- Sunderbruch Auditorium at Assumption
- Based on the beloved children’s book, Miss Nelson can’t control her crazy classroom because she’s just too nice. When she disappears, her replacement is the hard-as-nails, detention-loving, recess-canceling, homework-overloading substitute teacher Viola Swamp. The students, realizing how much they miss Miss Nelson, will do anything — including hiring a private eye — to bring her back.
- General Admission seating available at the door. All Tickets $5. Children under 5 are free. Free admission to students with Assumption Activity Pass. (Grade School Students must be accompanied by an adult)
Spiritwear Holiday Sale & Used Uniform Sale
Two options:
- Merchandise available for purchase during Drop-off Movie on December 1st. Movie attendance is not required to shop.
- Use the order form that was sent home at the end of last week. Deadline for Christmas orders is 12/3
Use Victory Vouchers for Your Holiday Shopping
Victory Vouchers are gift cards that one can purchase for over 7,000 different vendors. You buy the gift card through OLV or online and receive the full face value of the card. The parish, however, ALSO receives a percentage of the face value. You can even direct the parish to use some of its take to help you reduce your own family’s tuition bill! The parish office has a wide variety of gift cards in stock. Stop by before Black Friday! For more information, click here: Victory Vouchers.
Enjoy the Thanksgiving Break
My family’s plans to start visiting a little early fell through this weekend. My wife and I were planning on visiting my sister in Wisconsin while she is at my niece’s farm in Argyle (southwest of Madison). Unfortunately, my sister hurriedly went to Milwaukee when her father-in-law was admitted to the hospital for cardiac pain and had to have a stent implanted. While this unexpected turn of events threw off our plans, it was a blessing that my sister, who lives in Alabama, was so close to her father-in-law this weekend.
Three of my own four children (and one boyfriend) will be with us this Thanksgiving. My oldest daughter, unfortunately, will not be able to come, but she was just here for a week long visit about two weeks ago and is planning on coming to Iowa at Christmas. We enjoy family’s company whenever it’s possible! One thing I’ll never understand, however, is how all the good food I bought on Saturday in anticipation of a full house later in the week is gone by Monday morning!
I wish you and your family the best this Thanksgiving.
Chad
