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December 14, 2016

Dear Parent/Guardian,

It's beginning to look like Christmas with a soft blanket of snow on the ground and decorations all around.  It also sounds like Christmas as I walk into the school office and hear angelic voices singing carols to start off each day with the Christmas spirit. Our holiday faculty choir includes Miss Krieger (also on guitar); our music teacher, Ms. Chrysa Chidlow; our preschool teacher, Mrs. Megan Carlson; and Mrs. Jeannie Scalzitti on percussion, playing the silver bells.  Their magnificent performance over the school's public address system reminds me of angels on high, "sweetly singing o'er the plain."  It is hard to believe that there are fewer than twelve days left until Christmas!
 
Speaking of musical performances, don't miss the first through fourth grade Christmas performance tomorrow, Thursday, December 15, at 7:00 p.m.
 
Back to the real reason for the season--as I observed classes at school this week, I was reminded that we must use all five senses to fully experience Christmas. Listen to the sounds of Christmas--captivating carols, inspiring words at Advent Masses, and exciting stories of Jesus' upcoming birth.  Taste the many flavors of Christmas--home-baked sweets and traditional family recipes passed down from one generation to the next.  Smell the aromas of Christmas pine and mouthwatering cookies baking in the oven.  See the colorful lights and sparkling ornaments.  And most important of all, see Jesus, humbly arriving in this world as a little baby, open and willing to follow a mission that God had placed upon His heart.  Using the four senses described above will bring forth the fifth sense--that special feeling of Christmas wonderment, anticipation, and joy.  Yes, it is a "wonderful life" when we appreciate all the good things that God has given us.
 
So as Christmas draws near, remember to use all of your five senses to experience this season of wonder and love.  Jesus was born to free us from sin and share His love with us.  With the 3rd Sunday of Advent having passed, the pink candle of joy and rejoicing reminds us that Jesus is coming very soon!

"Blessings and Best!"

Mr. Thomas Chinske
Principal, St. Cletus School
Dates to Remember
December 15:     Grades 1-4 Christmas Program, 7:00 p.m., Church
December 16:     Preschool Christmas Program, 10:45 a.m.
December 19:     NJHS Movie Night, Grades 1-8, 5:30 p.m., Morrissey Hall
December 21:     Student Council sponsored Dress Down Day, Wear Christmas
                              Attire, Bring $1.00
December 21:     Band Concert, 7:00 p.m., Morrissey Hall
December 22:     All-School Mass, followed by Kindergarten Performance,
                              9:00 a.m., Church
School News & Information
2016-17 Annual Fund
The St. Cletus Annual Fund Drive has officially begun for the 2016-17 school year. We are asking school families to please consider donating to this very important fund raiser--any size donation will be sincerely appreciated.

Checks should be made payable to "St. Cletus School" and sent to the school office (please mark "Annual Fund" on the check and/or envelope).  You may also donate on-line at Support Our Annual Fund.  Thank you for supporting our school.
McDonald's D4D Event
Thank you to all who attended our Dining for Dollars event last night in support of St. Cletus.  We greatly appreciate the wonderful turnout at McDonald's.  Please remind our students to exemplify our "Cardinal" image, both on and off our school and parish grounds and to always remember to "be respectful, be responsible, and be compassionate" in everything they do.
Hot Lunch Ordering Reminder
The ordering deadline for the second half of the school year is Thursday, December 22.  Click HERE for ordering instructions.
ShopwithScrip
There will be a ShopwithScrip Cash and Carry this weekend, December 17 and 18, after all of the Masses.   Monday, December 19, will be the last Monday order before Christmas break.  Don't forget to place your Christmas orders.

Please note: if you have any ShopwithScrip questions or issues during the week of December 19, please e-mail Mrs. Wangard.
 
Winter Fest
Winter Fest will be on Friday, January 13, 2017 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.  All St. Cletus pre-school through 3rd grade students are invited.  Please send in your R.S.V.P. by Monday, January 9, 2017.
 
To volunteer (adults) and/or sign up to donate items for Winter Fest, click HERE.
 
To sign up for student service hours, click HERE.
Movie Night
NJHS will be hosting another movie night on Monday, December 19. We will be showing the movie "Elf," and all students in grades 1-8 are welcome to come--and parents, too!  Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the movie will begin at 6:00 p.m. We will be selling popcorn, candy, drinks and other concession items. Pre-sale tickets will be sold all week for $2.00; tickets at the door will be $3.00. Chairs will be set up in Morrissey Hall, but students are also welcome to bring blankets to watch from the floor. If you have any questions, e-mail Mr. Kittlaus.

St. Cletus Roller Skating Party   Flyer
Tickets go on sale this week!  The  St. Cletus Roller Skating Party  will be held on Tuesday, December 27, at the Fleetwood Roller Rink in Summit and is open to students in Grades 1-8.  Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and we are asking parents to pick up at 9:00 p.m.  Parents are welcome to stay if they choose.  Pre-sale tickets go on sale during lunch this week and will be $6.00 per student.  Tickets sold at the door will be $8.00.  Students may bring their own skates or rent them at the rink for $3.00.
Calling All Cardinals--It's Time to Re-enroll for the 2017-18 School Year!
  • Click HERE NOW to re-enroll on-line and pay (or schedule to pay) the annual $50.00 (non-refundable) FACTS re-enrollment fee (one fee per family).
  • NEW 2017-18 Students: click HERE to download, print, complete, and submit the New Student Application to the school office.
  • Current School Families: the re-enrollment deadline is Friday, December 16, so please reserve your child(ren)'s place(s) now.  Class openings will be available to the public starting December 19.
  • In May 2017, you will be asked to complete your registration information on-line and turn in additional required documents.
Teachers' Gift Fund
This is the last call for contributions to this year's "TGF."  Envelopes are due to the school office by December 16.  All faculty and staff will receive Christmas gift cards from the TGF before the holiday break.
Giving Tree
Just a reminder: RED TAGS (food baskets) are needed on Sunday, December 18, from 7:30-11:00 a.m. in Morrissey Hall.
 
Giving Tree Volunteer Opportunities
We are still in need of volunteers!  Please e-mail Kendall to sign up for opportunities listed below:

Sunday, December 18 (Morrissey Hall): 
Seventh and eighth graders must come with an adult, or if in a group, one adult to every five students.   Please note--it is not necessary to work an entire morning/afternoon shift, but at least two-hour shifts, please.
  • 6:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: accepting and organizing food baskets and gifts
  • 1:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.: distribution of food baskets, gifts, and cleanup 
St. Vincent de Paul Cookbooks     Flyer  
Thank you to all who contributed recipes for the St. Cletus St. Vincent de Paul Cookbook!  We have three upcoming opportunities for you to purchase the books just in time for the holidays!
  • December 17-18:  Before/after Masses
  • Purchase in the St. Cletus rectory during business hours
Cookbooks will be sold for $15 each, and all proceeds will go directly to serving those in need in our community.
DirectorySpot School Family Directory is Now Available
We will not have a "Red Book" (hard copy) family directory this year. Click  HERE to access our on-line 2016-17 directory.
Save The Dates
December 23:           NO School: Christmas Break Begins
December 26-30:      NO School: Christmas Break
December 27:            Roller Skating Party, 6:30-9:00 p.m., Fleetwood Roller Rink
January 2-6, 2017:    NO School: New Year's Break
School Office Hours
Monday through Friday, 7:15 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
 
Aftercare Pickup
Please park in the angled parking spaces along 54th Street (behind the school building), walk up the sidewalk between the church and the school building, and go to door # 6.  Ring the doorbell on the north outside wall at door # 6 to let the aftercare staff know you are here.  A staff member will greet you at the door, bring you to Room 99 (aftercare pickup room), and call your child(ren) to the room for pickup.  To contact the aftercare staff, call  (708) 215-5408 after 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Attendance and Extended Care Notifications
Please notify the school office and teacher(s) for student attendance and/or extended care changes/requests:
       School Office: attendance@stcletusparish.com or call (708) 352-4820
       Teacher E-mail:  [first initial last name @ stcletusparish.com]  
In This Week's Family Envelope
  • Winter Fest flyer
  • 2016 Cookbook Fundraiser flyer
  • Movie Night flyer
Visit our High School Virtual Backpack and Community Corner!
Get Involved
Ways to get involved: School Board, Family School Association (FSA), Athletic Association, St. Cletus Fathers' Club, and Band Boosters

Family School Association News

More Information

Athletic Association

Latest Newsletter




Advent wreath :  The Advent wreath, which has German origins, is probably the most recognized Advent custom. It is a wreath made of evergreens that is bound to a circle of wire. It symbolizes the many years from Adam to Christ in which the world awaited its Redeemer; it also represents the years that we have awaited His second and final coming. The wreath holds four equally spaced candles, the three purple ones lit on the penitential Sundays and a pink one for Gaudete, the joyful third Sunday in Advent.

The Christ candle:  Any large white candle can be used for the Christ candle. The idea is to decorate it with symbols for Christ. Use old Christmas cards, sequins, holly, etc. The candle can be lit on Christmas Eve to show that the Light of the World has arrived. Then continue to light the Christ candle throughout the year at Sunday dinner to remind your family of our waiting for Christ, as well as celebrating His birth and resurrection. 


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