The Morning Star Weekly Newsletter Vol 6, Edition 18 12/7/2021 |
|
Morning Star School Mission Statement
Rooted in the Gospel and strengthened by the sacraments, the mission of Morning Star School is to provide a unique, inspiring education empowering students with learning differences to achieve their full potential.
|
|
Dear Morning Star Friends and Families, |
We are now in the second week of Advent. Let us remember that Advent is a period of preparation and reflection. It is the season to prepare our hearts and souls for the coming of Christ. There are many ways we can do this, through our faith, through prayer, and through good deeds. We also prepare by celebrating Christ’s birth at Christmas and by allowing Christ in our lives through his grace and the Sacrament of Communion.
Psalms 27:1-4
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me, uttering slanders against me, my adversaries and
Foes, they shall stumble and fall.
Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise
Against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in
The house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in his temple.
God bless,
|
|
|
FROM YOUR DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT |
|
Greetings from your Development Department,
Our Annual Fund Campaign has begun, and we are hoping to make more friends than ever this year!
This fund assists Morning Star School in Bridging the Gap between the cost of our tuition and the actual cost of educating students in our specialized learning environment. The ongoing COVID19 pandemic is still affecting our school in a variety of ways, not the least of which is hindering us from having our annual Gala again this year. This gala usually brings in over $60,000 towards our annual fund goal. Our goal this year is $150,000.
The annual fund is an unrestricted account which aids in purchasing new curriculum, maintaining assistive technologies in classrooms which help students with learning differences, provide equipment for our physical education department, support testing services for students, upkeep on our playgrounds and outdoor equipment, and allow for our school to further assist families with our Tuition Assistance Program.
Every donation counts, no matter what size, and goes directly to helping our students. Visit the following link to become a Friend of Morning Star today!
|
|
|
|
Friday, December 10th, will be the last day of our SANTA SHOP. This is an event held at school where students get to do their own Christmas shopping! The items are fun, inexpensive Christmas gifts for the entire family. All gifts are priced between $5 to $10.
|
|
Project Chance Dress Down Day |
|
|
|
Friday, December 10th, will be a Project Chance dress down day.
|
|
|
|
Friday, December 15th at 1:00pm, we will hold a Nativity play at the Christ the King gym. Parents/families are all welcome to attend. Primary, Intermediate and Junior High students will participate in the play.
Flyers were sent home last Friday and parents are asked to RSVP by using the form at the bottom of the flyer.
Parents may take students home after the play. There will be a sign out sheet at the gym.
|
|
|
|
Thursday, December 16th at 10:00 am, our school Mass will be held at Christ the King Church. All are welcome
|
|
Toy Drive to Benefit Wolfson Children's Hospital |
|
|
|
Thursday, December 16th is the last day to drop off toys for the children at Wolfson Children's Hospital. If you would like to donate, please send new, unwrapped toys in with your child to class or drop them off at the front office. Click HERE for a list of suggested donation items needed.
Feel free to order a toy on Amazon and send it to :
Morning Star School
C/O TOY DRIVE
725 Mickler Road
Jacksonville, FL 32211
If you would like to make a monetary donation instead of toys, please click HERE. Your donation will be directed to the Behavioral Health Unit at Wolfson Children's Hospital.
|
|
Noon Dismissal & Non-Uniform Day |
|
|
|
Friday, December 17th, is a noon dismissal and a non-uniform day. After school care will NOT be available. Report cards will be emailed home,
|
|
Toy Drive to Benefit Wolfson Children's Hospital |
|
PLEASE HELP US FILL THE BOXES WITH TOYS!
This year Morning Star School is partnering up with Gianna Capri and her brothers Anthony and Bobby, to collect donations for the Toys for Tots Drive for Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital. The toys are being collected in memory of their Uncle Michael. Throughout the years Gianna and her family have collected 1,000 toys and $2,500 in direct donations to the hospital. Let's help them keep up the great work they are doing.
If you would like to donate, please send new, unwrapped toys in with your child to class or drop them off at the front office. The last day to donate is December 16th. Click HERE for a list of suggested donation items needed.
If you would like to make a monetary donation instead of toys, please click HERE. Your donation will be
directed to the Behavioral Health Unit at Wolfson Children's Hospital.
Feel free to order a toy on Amazon and send it to :
Morning Star School
C/O TOY DRIVE
725 Mickler Road
Jacksonville, FL 32211
|
|
A Message from Deacon Scott Conway
Bishop Estevez shared with me that the Holy Father has shared his prayer intention for December to be for Catechists. As you know, we as Catholic school faculty and staff share in one common mission, SPREADING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST! We are all catechists.
It is truly a vocation to work in a Catholic school. It is a vocation because we choose to continue the great work of Jesus himself. In the most recent edition of the Directory for Catechesis, they use a keyword, ACCOMPANY. I believe this is at the heart of what we do as Catholic educators. We are accompanying the whole family on a journey. Some of these families are with us from the time they are infants until they graduate high school, eighteen years. I know that sometimes things get tough, and we struggle with personalities and issues, but we need to get past these. We need to remember that we might be the only Jesus someone encounters, today, tomorrow, this month, this year, or EVER!
Thank you for being a Catholic school educator and for changing lives for the better every day. Your gift as a role model to the school community you serve is instrumental in the future of the student, family, and school.
This link takes you to the Vatican news site that shares the Holy Father’s message. Please feel free to share this message with your school community so that they know how much the Holy Father supports the great work of Catholic education throughout the world.
May God continue to bless your ministry,
Deacon Scott Conway
|
|
High School students had a blast at their "Ugly Sweater" winter dance.
To view more pictures of the winter dance, click HERE.
|
|
|
|
St. Augustine March for Life
March for Life St. Augustine is for anyone of any faith who believes in the sanctity of human life. The 2020 March drew a few thousand people, not just from northeast Florida, but as far as Palm Beach, Miami, and St. Petersburg. Not to mention Atlanta, Georgia! Our 2021 March adapted into a multi-faceted display for LIFE! Please join us!
For more information click HERE.
To view the website, click HERE.
|
|
Freshmen and sophomore students decorated ugly sweater ornaments for the high school winter dance. To view more pictures of the winter dance click HERE.
|
|
 |
High school students participated with Arc Jacksonville at Feeding Northeast Florida this Thanksgiving. They bagged over 4,000 pounds of potatoes that were sorted and donated to local food pantries. |
|
|
|
HELP US RAISE MONEY FOR MSS! |
|
WHEN SHOPPING ON AMAZON SHOP ON AMAZONSMILE INSTEAD!
SELECT MORNING STAR SCHOOL AS YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY AND
A PORTION OF YOUR PURCHASE WILL BE DONATED TO OUR SCHOOL!
|
|
If you shop on Amazon, make sure you shop on AmazonSmile. It's exactly the same Amazon you love but a portion of your purchase price will be donated to our school each time you shop!
2. Select Morning Star School of Jacksonville as your charity of choice and start shopping!
3. Bookmark the AmazonSmile link and use it each time you shop with Amazon! (Proceeds will only be donated if you are logged into AmazonSmile).
|
|
Download the Box Tops App Today! |
|
Box Tops is a great way to earn fundraising dollars! And now there is a new phone app which makes it easier to earn points for our school! Shop as you normally would, then simply scan your store receipts to find participating products. The app will automatically credit your school's Box Tops earnings online. It's a much easier way to help us earn dollars.
Download the new Box Tops App HERE
Watch a video about the new process HERE
You may still clip Box Tops and send them to school. Physical Box Tops clips are being phased out of production but may continue to be found on many products throughout the store.
A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER...
- Turn in your box tops weekly. They do expire.
- Be sure to NOT cut the code off. We cannot use it if the code is missing even one of the digits.
- Place them in a zip lock bag and send them in with your student.
|
|
If you have a great story, please share it with us. We love showcasing the many talents of our students and their families. To submit a story, click the button below. |
|
|
|
Copyright © 2021 Morning Star School, all rights reserved. You are receiving this email because your student is/was enrolled at Morning Star School. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
