Cougar Chronicle December 2021 |
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Dear Parents,
On the First Sunday of Advent, Catholics begin a new liturgical year and the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas. The Scripture readings during the four Sundays of Advent urge us to make ready for the coming of Jesus Christ in our lives; therefore, during Advent, we reflect, pray, and prepare daily to welcome Jesus with great joy at Christmas.
I have included a few traditional practices that you may want to implement in your home during Advent to enrich the season with sign and symbol:
- The Advent Wreath is typically made of evergreen branches, signifying everlasting life. The four candles represent the four Sundays of Advent; the three purple candles represent our prayers and sacrifices made during Advent; the rose candle, lit on the Third Sunday of Advent (also known as Gaudete Sunday), marks the midpoint of Advent and reminds us that our time of waiting and preparation for the birth of Jesus is half finished. Prayers and singing accompany the ritual of lighting the Advent wreath, which reminds us that Jesus is the Light of the world!
- Advent calendars can be created for the season by making a simple calendar and filling in each day with a prayer or action completed to prepare for the birth of Jesus. An Advent chain can be created by linking 24 purple paper strips (one for each day of Advent). Each day, as children pray and prepare for Christmas, a link is added to the chain with a note of the action completed.
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A Jesse Tree can be created to recall the story of Salvation History and God's love for us. On a small, bare branch, children create symbols related to the people in the Bible who prepared the way for Jesus.
During Advent, it is important to find time with your child to prepare for the celebration of Christmas, and most importantly, make room for Jesus Christ in a hectic world? As we watch, wait, and hope, let us keep focused on the light of Christ, brought into the world on Christmas Day.
So much of our success in keeping Corpus Christi School a vibrant and thriving school community is because of the support we receive from you, the parents and guardians. Please continue to spread the good news.
I wish God’s blessings to all during this Advent season! May the joy of Christmas fill your hearts with peace and love!
Christmas Blessings,
Mrs. Ann T. Sarpu
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IMPORTANT DATES:
November 29
December 1
Christmas Wreath Pick Up 1:45-5:00 P.M.
December 3
First Friday Mass
December 6
Feast of Saint Nicholas
Advent Wreath Lighting
End of the First Trimester
December 8
Holy Day of Obligation Mass: Feast of the Immaculate
Conception: Mass 9:00 A.M.
December 10
Early Dismissal
December 13
Advent Wreath Lighting
December 13, 14, 15
Santa's Workshop
December 15
Birthday Dress Down
December 17
Report Cards Distributed
December 20
Advent Wreath Lighting
December 23
Christmas Dress Down/Festive
Early Dismissal 12:07 P.M.; No Aftercare
December 24- 12/31
Christmas Vacation
December 25
Merry Christmas
January 3
Classes Resume
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2021 CHRISTMAS CONCERT
We wanted to share the details about this year’s Christmas concerts. The students have been heartily practicing their songs and the band has also been diligently working on their selections. It’s so nice to have the sound of music echoing through the halls here.
While we are all hopeful that life will be back to normal soon, right now we still need to be creative given our current reality. Both the number of COVID cases and the infection rate continue to rise across Connecticut. Based on CDC classification, Hartford county, in particular, remains in a high risk zone for community transmission. It is projected that cases will continue to rise into December and throughout the winter months. While the majority of cases are occurring among the unvaccinated, there are a substantial number of breakthrough cases occurring in vaccinated individuals. This makes it challenging for us to welcome a large number of parents and family members into the building while ensuring everyone’s health and safety.
With this in mind, our plan is to videotape the concerts in school, on the respective dates that the performances were scheduled for. Once that is completed, we will send you a link so that you can enjoy the concerts safely, in the comfort of your home, surrounded by your loved ones. Students should dress up in their Christmas outfits for their concert. Please see below for the videotaping schedule:
December 7 Christmas Concert Videotaping: Band
December 9 Christmas Concert Videotaping: Grades 4,5,6
Christmas Concert Videotaping: Grades PreK & K
We are excited to see our talented students perform! Thank you for your tremendous flexibility, resiliency, and care for our community during these uncertain times.
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SANTA'S WORKSHOP
IS AROUND THE CORNER!!!!
December 13th, 14th & 15th
We are in need of holiday gift bags, wrapping paper, bows and name tags.
Volunteers will need to submit proof of COVID vaccination and VIRTUS training certificate to office by Wednesday, December 8th.
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Help the Elderly in Need
Corpus Christi School is collecting for
"The Little Sisters of the Poor" this holiday season.
We hope to get as many of the following items as we can:
AAA Batteries
AA Batteries
K Cups Breakfast Blend
Peanut Butter & Jelly
The Little Sisters of the Poor at St. Joseph’s Residence in Enfield, CT provides compassionate care for the low-income elderly in need of independent living arrangements as well as assisted living and skilled nursing care. They provide 24/7 care, in a COVID-19 free environment, for the physical needs of 68 elderly residents.
Donated items can be dropped off at the School Office.
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IMPORTANT SAFETY NEWS
Your child’s safety is important to us, if you choose to drop off your child via Cotwell Street please abide by the following rules:
- Cars should utilize ONE LANE ONLY.
- DO NOT PASS cars in the drop off lane.
- Follow the one-way traffic and exit onto the Silas Deane Highway.
- Pull up as far as possible before dropping off
- Make sure your child exits the car on the curbside
- Your child needs to be ready to exit your vehicle when you pull up
- Backpacks and other items need to be readily available
If your child needs more time, please park in the lower parking lot and walk your child to the school. These rules are imperative to keep everyone safe!! Failure to abide by these rules can result in suspension of drop off privileges.
As always, the safety and well-being of your children is our top priority. If you have any questions, please call the School Office.
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VIRTUS Training for Parent Volunteers
VIRTUS is the brand name that identifies best practices programs designed to help prevent wrongdoing and promote "right doing" within religious organizations. The VIRTUS programs empower organizations and people to better control risk and improve the lives of all those who interact with the Church.
Any parent who would like to volunteer for any event or activity at Corpus Christi School needs to attend VIRTUS training. Certificate of Completion needs to be forwarded to aspina@corpuschristischoolct.org The Archdiocese of Hartford is providing the training online.
Directions for online training:
Click "First Time Registrant"
Click "Begin the Registration Process".
Registration should be completed under “Hartford” as in the Archdiocese.
The program is about 1 ½ hours long. It is a series of 10 videos and questions after each video.
Certificate of Completion needs to be forwarded to aspina@corpuschristischoolct.org
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Dear Parents/Guardians,
As we enter into the holiday season, I have a few reminders:
If you are traveling out of the country to an area that is NOT a United States territory; you must quarantine your child as well as yourselves if you are not vaccinated upon return. If your child is a student here at school; quarantine is for 7 days IF a COVID test is obtained 3-5 days after return, otherwise it is for 10 days if testing is not done. I will need the test results to allow your child to return to school.
Please continue to send in your child’s flu shot paperwork for preschool.
We are hopeful holiday gatherings will be better this year, but please be safe and follow guidelines as necessary as we are cautiously watching for an increase in cases during this time.
Please keep your child home if they are ill and call me so I can enter it in the attendance.
If your child is vaccinated for COVID, please remember to send in completed shot series for your child’s chart. I cannot exclude them from possible quarantine unless I have the records.
I wish you all a wonderful holiday!
Mrs. Cowan RN BS
Corpus Christi School Nurse
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Christmas Wreath Fundraiser:
Families can pick up their wreath orders at the school on
Wednesday, 12/1, from 1:45 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Boon Supply Fundraiser:
Runs through Friday, December 3 - 40% of your total sales goes towards your fundraising obligation. Brochures have been sent home with your child(ren).
Boon Supply:
The fundraiser will begin on Monday, 11/15, and run through Monday, 12/3. 40% of your total sales goes towards your fundraising obligation. Look for flyers that will be going home with your child(ren).
Below are some flyers from Boon to help you be more successful:
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