Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As I indicated in a previous email, Catholic Schools Week is fast approaching. Wednesday, January 30th, is designated as our "Day of Service". It is during this day that we integrate service directly into our learning activities in response to the mandate of Christ, "What you do for the least of my brethren, you do for me" (Matt. 25:40). I thank you in advance for taking the time to read this lengthy email, as the participation of all families is crucial to making this a very special day for those whom we are serving.
Our sincere hope, is that regardless of the activity that your child is participating in, they will end the day with a deeper awareness and appreciation of the Gospel call to serve those in need. In order to accomplish this, we have identified
three areas of service that your children will be participating in during the Day of Service.
The activities will commence on Wednesday, January 30th at 12:30 and last more or less until dismissal.
Grades Pre-K - 2: these grade bands will host their annual "Baby Shower" again in support of
Good Counsel Homes. This organization provides housing and resources for single, expecting mothers who are in difficult situations. They ca really use a number of items that would directly benefit these women and their newborn children.
Please refer to the list below by grade level so that we can start collecting items to support them. A representative from Good Counsel will briefly discuss their work and we will collect the items out of the Art Room that day. Last year this was a lot of fun for the students, and offered an important lesson about care for the unborn and the newly born, as well as providing concrete support for single mothers in need.
Again, please refer to the list below of the suggested items per grade level that we are looking to collect by January 30th.
Pre-K-2: Good Counsel Homes
- Pre-K 3: Pacifiers and Pacifier Clips
- Pre-K 4: Sippy Cups
- Kindergarten: Bottle Brushes
- Grade 1: Small rattles and little wrist rattles
- Grade 2: Little hair items for infant girls
- Additional suggestions: Diapers (sizes 4,5,6), diaper rash creams (Balmex, etc), board books for babies, fruit/veggie pouches, toddler sized socks for boys and girls
Grades 3-5: This year, students on these grade levels will be collecting items and writing letters for
Veterans. Mr. Bracero (father of Gianna, grade 3), works for the VA and is helping us coordinate efforts to provide care packages for homeless veterans in our area. Beyond this, we hope to distribute letters to local VA hospitals and living facilities for Veterans, as well as to the people that Mr. Bracero works with. We feel that this can offer a powerful lesson for our students to service not only those in need, but to show veneration and honor to our veterans for the sacrifices they have made for all of us.
Please be sure to review the list of items below from which we are asking families to donate by January 30th.
Grades 3-5: Soldier On Care Packages for Homeless Vets
- new women's sneakers size 7-10
- men's and women's socks
- men's and women's deodorant
- shampoo and shaving cream
- gel pens
- adult coloring books
- clothing: men's t-shirts (all sizes); women's clothing (size S-2XL)
- insulated cups and mugs
- towels and wash cloths
- Note: there are no items assigned to each specific grade in this grade band; families can pick whatever items they would like to send in.
Grades 6-8:
This month, in lieu of our St. Anthony Club meeting, this grade band will expand its efforts to provide bagged lunches and "blessing bags" for the homeless in Camden. These items will go to the Cathedral Kitchen, which is already very grateful for our support during this past year. We have lofty goals this year for this grade band, and we will be calling upon parent volunteers to assist in transporting the items to the Cathedral Kitchen. Please be sure to review the list of items that we are asking families to donate on Jan. 30th.
It is important to note that the items for this activity should ONLY BE BROUGHT IN ON JAN. 30TH.
Grades 6-8: Cathedral Kitchen, Camden, NJ
For this band we are asking
all students to bring in:
- 1 loaf of white bread
- 1 small bottle of water.
Additionally, we are inviting students to consider choosing a few of the following items
if they are able to:
- soap bars, hand sanitizer/hand wipes
- comb/brush
- toothpaste/toothbrush
- shampoo/conditioner
- deodorant
- shaving cream/razors
- lip gloss/balm
- dental floss
- hand/body lotion
- hair bands
- small tissue packets
- new socks for men, women, children
- plastic ponchos
- shoe laces
- Additionally, if parents have any medium to large boxes that they can send on January 30th that would be greatly appreciated!!
Please keep in mind that the general theme of the day is:
1) Recognizing that each human being, regardless of his/her circumstance, have been created in the image of God, and therefore has infinite dignity.
2) We are all called to love and be loved.
3) A fundamental dimension of being Christian is to serve the needs of the poor.
Our hope is that the students come away with a deeper appreciation of these principles of Catholic teaching. To be sure, the generosity of St. Peter School Families is
never outdone, so we thank you in advance for your support of these great service projects. Additionally, if you would like to learn more about the programs that we are supporting, you can click on the following links:
Once again, I would like to thank all parents/guardians for working with us to instill in our students the core value of service. St. Peter states in Scripture, "Above all, maintain a constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8).
Sincerely,
Mr. Saffioti
Principal
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