November 30, 2016

  Parish     Sports    Calendar 
Attendance 
Please email
or
call  ( 424) 327-9650 
when your child  is going to be absent.
 Up-Coming Dates
This Week (and Next ) at AMS 
School Mass - Friday, December 2 at 8AM

Report Cards - Friday, December 2
(Please Note: Report Cards will be accessible through SchoolSpeak on 
Fri, December 2 at 5:00PM. Hard copies of the report cards will NOT  be sent home.)   

AMPA Meeting - Wednesday, December 7 at 8:15am in St. Kateri

Lower School - Parent-Teacher Conferences December 7,8,9.  Early dismissal for the Lower School.  
Lower School Parents - reminder that there is no hot lunch service for grades PONY-4 on Parent Conference Days  Wednesday (12-7), Thursday (12-8) and Friday (12-9). 

Pick-up your Wreaths  -  Tuesday, December 6  2pm to 4pm  O'Donnell parking lot.  

School Mass - Thursday, December 8 at 8AM - Feast of the Immaculate Conception
 

$5 Lunch this Friday at the Gym - see you there!  
Calendar These Dates
Christmas Concerts ( 7PM  in the Gym)
             -  Tuesday, December 20 - Grades 5 - 8
             -  Wednesday, December 21 - Grades 1 - 4

No Hot Lunch on Thursday, December 22nd.

Christmas Break -  Friday, December 23 -  Sunday, January 8
                           School resumes  Monday, January 9

American Martyrs/Kindergarten Information Meeting - Wednesday, January 18 at 7PM in O'Donnell Hall
Have You Donated to the 2016 AMS Annual Giving Campaign??
Every family should have received a letter in the mail recently outlining the key funding initiatives for this year's Annual Giving Campaign and requesting a contribution of $920 per student (the difference between last year's annual tuition and what it actually cost to educate a student at AMS). Once again, our goal this year is 100% participation from AMS families and gifts of any amount are encouraged.  Members of the AMS Advancement Committee have been assigned roles as liaisons at the grade level to further assist families in making the decision to contribute.   Please contact them if you have any questions regarding the Campaign as detailed in the letter.
 
Candice Witek - Pony
Christine Mancini - Kindergarten
Jake Capps - 1st Grade
Pat McCloskey - 2nd Grade
Molly Ursini - 3rd Grade
Chris Simms - 4th Grade
Audra Steller - 5th Grade
Scott Rackett - 6th Grade
Mark Jacobs - 7th Grade
Camryn Friel - 8th Grade
 
Thank you in advance for your continued dedication and generosity to our children's school.
 
The quickest and easiest way to make a donation is online by using a credit card and clicking here. 
 
More detailed information on this year's Annual Giving Campaign can be found here or on the AMS website. 
Lower School Parent/Teacher Conferences 
Appointment slips came home today in the white envelope.  Look for the bright pink paper.  If your slip didn't make it home or got misplaced, please contact Dawn Cooper.  

AMPA Meeting - Wednesday December 7
Join us for our AMPA meeting next Wednesday, Dec 7 at 8:15am
 in St. Kateri. 
 
In addition to news on AMPA events, there will be updates on the work being done in the area of Social Emotional growth for our students, Student Service Projects, and the Parish Building Project.
 
All parents are members of AMPA. Looking forward to seeing you there! 
Altar Server Training: Mandatory General Parent Meeting  
SIGN-UP for NEW ALTAR SERVERS
 
MANDATORY PARENT MEETING 
Tuesday  -  December 6, 2016
7:00 pm in the CHURCH
 
PARENTS:    Is your child - 5th grade or older?
Are they interested in serving in the Youth Altar Server ministry at American Martyrs Church?
 
Attend the parent meeting for future Youth Altar Servers (YAS).
Get information regarding:  Training requirements & Training dates
Sign-up to be a Youth Altar Server at this meeting
Training sessions will be scheduled during Winter and Spring of 2017. 
Any questions please contact  Jeff & Joanne Harang 
Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year... for Scrip!
Parents -
  Look for an email from the Scrip Office with your Year-to-Date Scrip Statement - remember that Christmas is a huge buying opportunity!
 
Here is the Order Form of items we have in stock, plus there are lots of items that can be special ordered for stores across the country (Bloomingdale's, Dillards, Lord & Taylor, etc) and lots of regional restaurants - check out the list at ShopwithScrip.com  - then you can order the cards online or just send us an email and we will have it in the Scrip Office in a few days. Some items you can even order online and e-Gift!

Don't forget that American Martyrs Gift Scrip makes a wonderful thank you gift for most everyone - you purchase it here at the office and the recipient comes in and redeems the scrip for anything we have in stock! Teachers, friends, kids, teens - we have something for everyone.
Christmas Wreath Pick Up - Tuesday December 6
AMSWreath
Christmas Wreaths may be picked up on Tuesday, December 6 from 
2 pm to 4 pm in the O'Donnell Hall parking lot. 
Thank you for your support of AMS!
Advent Candles and Wreaths for Sale! 

 Advent began Sunday, November 27!
     
Candles ($5.00) and Advent Wreaths ($10.00) are for sale in the SRE office! 
Missionary Childhood Association Appeal 
The children received their mission boxes for the Missionary Childhood Association. This is our annual Advent appeal to raise money for the children who are less fortunate than us. Our money will be sent to assist the children in missions that need our help. The Missionary Childhood Association is the only missionary organization where children help children. French Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson founded this Catholic association in 1843. He was convinced that children rich in faith and love were capable of playing their part in the Church's mission of helping others in need. Truly, Christ was born for us all and we encourage our students to help these children of God. Thank you for supporting this worthwhile mission appeal.
Many blessings,
 
Campus Ministry
 
There will be class containers so that we can watch our "love for our neighbor" grow just as Jesus asked us to do. Encourage your children to share with those in need.
Our Yearbook Needs Your Photos! 
Did you have some pictures of the Halloween Parade? Teacher Costumes? Use this link to upload them for the Yearbook! And keep them coming all year long! 
Thank you.
Sharon Suarez 
BOOK DRIVE DONATIONS NEEDED
ACCESS BOOKS BOOK DRIVE    
 
Please donate your gently used children's books to Access Books.
AMS donations will be used to create K - 8 classroom libraries for Nativity School in Los Angeles. Collection bins will be located in the front office and your used children's books may be dropped off from  12/12/16 - 12/22/16.  
 
Please click  here for additional information.
 
Thank you!
 Sports
Hamburgers and Hot Dogs at the Gym for Lunch Friday Dec. 2nd

Flag Football: 
Varsity: Our Varsity team went 28-0 this year capturing the CYO and FIYA title. This is a first for American Martyrs. Congratulations to the team and fabulous coaching staff. 

Girls Basketball:
Varsity: First game Tues. Dec. 13th Home (3:45) vs St. Lawrence Martyr, Sat. Dec. 10th Tournament @ St. Marys
JV: First game Tues. Dec. 13th Home (4:45) vs St. John Fisher
6th: First practice TBA
5th: First Practice Monday Dec. 5th out door courts 3:30-4:30

Boys Basketball:
6th: First practice Friday Dec. 2nd 1-3pm out door courts
5th: Frist practice Tues. Dec 6th 3:30-4:30 

Bowling:
We have 39 bowlers competing Sunday Dec 4th for the CYO Bowling Championship


Go Mustang,
Lou Ann Selsky
Parish & Community
Christmas Sing-A-Long in the Church - Saturday December 17
Parish Christmas Caroling -  Sunday December 18
Parish Christmas Caroling
Meet on the Steps after 5 pm Mass on Sunday, December 18.
We will head to downtown Manhattan Beach as we sing Christmas songs 
for all to enjoy! 
For more information or contact Colleen McCarthy
AMC Annual Christmas Project - December 10 & 11
xmas tree
On December 10 and 11,  please join in this  American Martyrs Parish tradition that brings our faith community together to collect wish-list items that are, in turn, distributed to various local organizations who serve less fortunate families at Christmas. 
This opportunity is for all parishioners to share the joy of giving with those whose children might not otherwise receive Christmas gifts, 
or families that might not have a decent meal on the table on Christmas Day. 

Come volunteer to help...d rop ins welcome.

For more  information. Questions call  Lory Zimnoch 310-561-3702 
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