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December 2023
“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given.”
Isaiah 9:6-7
Peace and Greetings:
The liturgical season of Advent has arrived and as Christians we wait/prepare for the joyous birth of the Christ child in our lives. I invite you to do so by finding time to celebrate the season with your St. Paul family. Please consider attending one of our preparation events:
Parent Advent Gathering (Tuesday, December 5 at 6 pm in the library)
Advent Prayer Service and Light-Up St. Paul (Friday – December 8 at 6:30 pm on McPhee Field)
Art Show & Christmas Concert (Tuesday, December 12 at 6:30 pm)
Christmas Mass at St. Gregory the Great Church (Thursday, December 21 at 10:15 am)
Mr. Duffany, religion department chair, will share his reflection, “Christmas Manger: The First Altar,” on the message of Christmas and our call, as parents, to nourish our children with this message. Join us for wine & cheese, fellowship and casual conversation during this one-hour program.
This Friday’s Light-Up St. Paul is an annual community event. Join us for our outdoor advent prayer service, luminary walk, caroling, bonfires with smores, Santa’s workshop, food provided by teams/clubs (chili, grilled cheese, mac & cheese, pulled pork sandwiches, candy apples, cake pops, cinnamon rolls, assorted baked goods, hot chocolate, cider, etc.) fellowship and more. Enjoy our professional ice carving presentation with a Falcon logo. Pick up some handmade ornaments from our sewing club. Come join in on the fun!
Want to be inspired? Come and witness for yourself the sight and sound of our student’s creative gifts. Plan to attend our annual Art Show and Christmas Concert on December 12 at 6:30 pm in the school lobby and auditorium.
I’m thrilled to share that Archbishop Christopher Coyne, the new Coadjutor Archbishop of Hartford, has accepted our invitation to be the principal celebrant at our school’s Christmas Mass scheduled for Thursday, December 21 at 10:15 am at St. Gregory the Great Church. All are invited to join us in welcoming Archbishop Coyne to St. Paul and participate in this beautiful school tradition.
This Thursday, December 7 will be a two-hour delayed opening. School will start for students at 9:45 am. Faculty/staff will be involved in NEASC reaccreditation meetings in the morning. Busses will be available. Out-of-town buses will operate on a 90-minute delay schedule.
A reminder that in the case of inclement winter weather, St. Paul generally follows the decision of the Bristol Board of Education. In the event of a two-hour delay, out-of-town busing is on a 90-minute delay giving these buses more time to travel to school. When contacted by our parent notification system, you must say hello to activate the message. If you do not receive a call, please contact our main office. Closings, delayed openings and early dismissals will also be posted on WFSB, WVIT, WTNH and WTIC-TV. You can sign up on their websites for electronic device school alerts.
Congratulations to the Class of 2024 who have begun receiving acceptances from various colleges and universities from across the country. Seniors and their parents are encouraged to explore the various college scholarship opportunities made available to St. Paul graduates. One very generous scholarship(s) is the Thomas & Elsie Deeley Foundation. Information can be found on the St. Paul website: www.spchs.com homepage. The application deadline is December 31.
Juniors and their parents are encouraged to start the college admissions process by attending Junior College Night this Thursday, December 7 at 6:00 pm in the auditorium. In addition to providing an overview of the process by our school counselors, a panel of college representatives will be here to answer general questions. Every family is encouraged to attend.
Christmas vacation begins on Thursday, December 21 at 2:12 pm. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
St. Paul is blessed as a faith community to have the freedom to live the gift of Christmas every day. It’s the reason we exist. I wish you and your family much joy, happiness and peace during this season and throughout the year. Merry Christmas!
In the Spirit of St. Paul,
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