Tuesday News 2/28/23

Lent began with our Ash Wednesday Mass on February 22, with Father Harry as celebrant. Father encouraged everyone to not only consider what they may sacrifice for Lent, but what they might also add to their spiritual lives. What will help strengthen the relationship between you and Jesus? Our students will be talking about this and the life of Jesus throughout the season.  

Announcements

A Message From the Principal

Dear Families,

I hope this note finds you and your family healthy and well.

There will be no school for students on Friday, March 3. Our faculty will participate in a professional development program that day.

We will have an all-school Mass on Tuesday, March 14, at 9:30 AM. All are welcome to attend.

The liturgical season of Lent began on February 22 with Ash Wednesday and will end on April 6, Holy Thursday. The Easter Tridium completes our preparation for Easter which will be celebrated on April 9. Below is some information on the Lenten season:

Where does Lent come from? Lent draws its inspiration from the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert. The Gospels tell us that Jesus fasted in the desert after his baptism and then was tempted by the devil. He resisted these temptations and then went to Galilee to begin his public ministry. (Mark 4:1-11)

What are we encouraged to do during Lent? Three key pillars characterize the Lenten season: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (charity). The USCCB tells us that during Lent, “we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting.” While most Catholics are familiar with “no meat on Fridays” during Lent, fasting, and abstinence are important components throughout Lent. This may look like giving up things such as gossip, your favorite coffee order, or forgoing music in the car and replacing it with prayer. Almsgiving reminds us of Jesus’s call to serve and connects us in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in need.

What to give up for Lent? Lenten sacrifices can be valuable if they help increase our reliance on Jesus and if the void we create by giving something up opens up space in our hearts for God to fill. As much as we consider something to abstain from during Lent, we should also consider what we can commit to. What outside actions can we take to better ignite the flame of our faith within us?

Why don’t Catholics eat meat on Fridays during Lent? Abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent is a sacrifice and a small act of self-discipline that dates back to the early Church. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday feature additional rules for fasting and abstinence. This is in stark contrast to the abundant feasts of Easter.

During these 40 days, I encourage you and your family to make time for reflection and spiritual growth and to use this Lenten season to build a deeper relationship with our Lord.

Have a Blessed Week!

Sincerely,

Kathleen J. Kilty, PhD
Principal

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The end of the second trimester is March 10th. All work should be turned in to teachers before then!

CALENDAR REMINDERS

March 3: NO SCHOOL (AOB Teacher Workday)

March 17: WEAR GREEN DAY - NOON DISMISSAL

April 6 (Holy Thursday): NOON DISMISSAL - NO AFTER SCHOOL CARE

April 7-16: NO SCHOOL - EASTER BREAK

UPCOMING IN-SCHOOL EVENTS

2nd Annual "24" Tournament, Monday, March 13 1:00 p.m.: The 24 Game is a fun way to engage students to practice math fact fluency and retention, critical skills needed as students progress in their studies. The goal of the game is to be the first one to come up with the answer 24 using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

Schoolwide Mass on Tuesday, March 14 at 9:30 a.m.

St. Patrick's Day Out-of-Uniform, Friday, March 17 - Wear Green! Go all out to celebrate St. Patrick's Day from your head to your toes.

SLIME TIME, Friday March 17: Students who raised $200 or more during the Kids Heart Challenge will have the opportunity to slime Mrs. Reaver!

Kids Heart Challenge - We Need You

Our Kids Heart Challenge will end THIS FRIDAY and we need you! We are $3879 short of our school goal. (as of this writing) If you haven't registered your student, please visit http://www2.heart.org/goto/MotherSetonSchool and complete the challenges!

Any student who raises $150 by the donation due date of MARCH 3^rd will get XL FRANKIE!!!

Any student who raises more than $200 will get the chance to SLIME Mrs. Reaver!

GLOW BOWL IN PE NEXT WEEK

To celebrate the finale of the Kids Heart Challenge, students may wear neon shirts to PE class. 

HSA CASH BINGO

*EARLY BIRD DRAWING ENDS THIS FRIDAY!*

Join us for our next CASH BINGO - Sponsored by Vigilant Hose Co. to benefit Mother Seton School.

Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the VHC Activities Building (next to Mother Seton School). Doors open at 4pm; Games begin at 6pm. Pick up prepaid tickets at the door.

*Purchase tickets before March 3rd to be entered into our Early Bird drawing for $100* 

$40 in advance. Tickets include dinner and a 9-pack ALL INCLUSIVE - 25 games (Regular $150, Specials $250, Jackpot $1,000).

Tickets available at VHC Bingo on Wed and Fri nights!

Or buy tickets online or visit our webpage for info on how to purchase with cash or check.

If you have any questions, please email us at HSA@mothersetonschool.org.

Field Trip Payments

Our experiment with MySchoolWallet has not worked out as we'd hoped and we will not be using this system next school year. However, it is active until the end of this school year. You can still make payments for your students' field trips through the app - please specify in the note your student's name, grade, and field trip destination.

Re-Enrollment Season Has Ended

Enrollment has opened to new families. We have waiting lists for some grades. If you have not re-registered and you intend to return next year, please enroll and pay your registration fee* IMMEDIATELY. We cannot guarantee your student's seat for next year.

If you do not intend to re-enroll for next year, please contact Laurie at admissions@mothersetonschool.org.

For complete details, including the schedule of tuition and fees and important deadlines, visit our Admissions page. An email will be going out to current families, as well. Questions about the process should be directed to Laurie Szukalski at admissions@mothersetonschool.org. Questions regarding financial aid or tuition should be directed to our finance department at finance@mothersetonschool.org.

*The early bird discount is over. Registration fee is now $300/student (max $900/family)

Lost and Found

There is a lost and found cart located in the cafeteria. If your student is missing anything, especially articles of clothing, please have them check the cart. The cart is getting full! Items not claimed by Easter Break may be donated or thrown away.

Remember to label your child's belongings.

Fairfield AYSO Spring Soccer

Spring Soccer Registration for Fairfield AYSO Soccer is open for just two more weeks! Go to AYSO709.org to register. Regular registration will continue until March 10th, but please register sooner rather than later as that helps us to secure enough coaches and have enough equipment for the season. Late registration will begin March 11th and be subject to available space on teams. If you have any questions, email laurenphelan@netscape.net. The registration fee is $42. There is a discount for registering multiple children in one family. We have teams for 3 year olds through middle schoolers. (Our middle school team will work around the Fairfield Middle School soccer schedule). Come learn to play great soccer in a positive environment with great coaches and happy kids!

Knights of Columbus Friday Fish Bakes 

Every Friday in March, 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Hall in Thurmont

Adults: $15; Children 4-10: $5; Children 3 and younger FREE

VIEW FLIER

Friday, March 10 and March 31, 4:00-7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph's Parish Hall in Emmitsburg

Variable pricing depending on menu. SEE FLIER FOR DETAILS

EASTER EGG HUNT!

Annual Easter Egg Hunt with the Knights of Columbus in Emmitsburg

Sunday, April 2 at 1pm in Emmitsburg Community Park

VIEW FLIER

Sponsorship Ads for Folders and Handbooks

Did you know that the folders the students use and the handbooks you receive at the beginning of each year are free to us thanks to ad sponsorships? If you would like to be a sponsor or know someone who would like the opportunity, please complete this form and return to the front office, or call Mary Lou (her phone number is on the form). 

SICK POLICY REMINDER - IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

*Additional reminder: if your child has vomiting or nausea and is sent home from school, they should NOT RETURN THE NEXT DAY. Please follow the 24-hour rule as you would for fever or diarrhea.

There are many viruses going around, not the least of which are COVID, flu and RSV. Many of our students have already suffered illnesses. PLEASE, in order to keep our school healthy and to show consideration to other students, faculty, staff, and families, DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL IF THEY ARE TOO SICK TO TAKE PART IN NORMAL ACTIVITIES OR IF THEY HAVE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

• Fever at or above 100˚F
• Vomiting or Nausea
• Uncontrollable cold symptoms
  • persistent/disruptive cough
  • excessively runny nose
  • headaches/body aches
  • sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Decrease or loss of taste or smell
• Diarrhea
• Undiagnosed rash
• Green nasal discharge lasting longer than ten days or accompanied by fever/chills
• Pinkeye

Since cold and flu symptoms can mimic COVID, please ensure your child has tested negative for COVID before sending them to school. We have at-home test kits for your convenience. Your pediatrician can also recommend a combination COVID-Flu-RSV home test kit if they believe it's necessary.

As a reminder, children must be fever- and diarrhea-free for at least 24 hours without the aid of medicine (Tylenol, Motrin, Immodium, etc.) before they can return to school.

If your child exhibits any of these symptoms at school, we will send them home. If your child must miss more than 3 days of school, we ask you to please bring a doctor's note upon their return to school.

Thank you for your consideration of the health of others and your assistance in keeping our school healthy!

CAFETERIA MENU

Afternoon Pick Up Procedures

We are doing our best to keep the car lines organized so we do not block Creamery Road. Please see the map below for how the flow is conducted for pick up.