The Best Gift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Betty Werth
On Christmas Eve, a young boy with light in his eyes
Looked deep into Santa’s, to Santa’s surprise
And said as he sat on Santa’s broad knee,
"I want your secret. Tell it to me."
He leaned up and whispered in Santa’s good ear
"How do you do it, year after year?"
"I want to know how, as you travel about,
Giving gifts here and there, you never run out.
How is it, dear Santa, that in your pack of toys
You have plenty for all of the world’s girls and boys?
Stays so full, never empties, as you make your way
From rooftop to rooftop, to homes large and small,
From nation to nation, reaching them all?"
And Santa smiled kindly and said to the boy,
"Don’t ask me hard questions. Don’t you want a toy?"
But the child shook his head, and Santa could see
That he needed the answer. "Now listen to me,"
He told that small boy with the light in his eyes,
"My secret will make you sadder and wise.
"The truth is that my sack is magic inside
It holds millions of toys for my Christmas Eve ride.
But although I do visit each girl and each boy
I don’t always leave them a gaily wrapped toy.
Some homes are hungry, some homes are sad,
Some homes are desperate, some homes are bad.
Some homes are broken, and the children there grieve.
Those homes I visit, but what should I leave?
"My sleigh is filled with the happiest stuff,
But for homes where despair lives toys aren’t enough.
So I tiptoe in, kiss each girl and boy,
And I pray with them that they’ll be given the joy
Of the spirit of Christmas, the spirit that lives
In the heart of the dear child who gets not, but gives.
"If only God hears me and answers my prayer,
When I visit next year, what I will find there
Are homes filled with peace, and with giving, and love
And boys and girls gifted with light from above.
It’s a very hard task, my smart little brother,
To give toys to some, and to give prayers to others.
But the prayers are the best gifts, the best gifts indeed,
For God has a way of meeting each person’s need.
"That’s part of the answer. The rest, my dear youth,
Is that my sack is magic. And that is the truth.
In my sack I carry on Christmas Eve day
More love than a Santa could ever give away.
The sack never empties of love, or of joys
`Cause inside it are prayers, and hope. Not just toys.
The more that I give, the fuller it seems,
Because giving is my way of fulfilling dreams.
"And do you know something? You’ve got a sack, too.
It’s as magic as mine, and it’s inside of you.
It never gets empty, it’s full from the start.
It’s the center of light, and love. It’s your heart.
And if on this Christmas you want to help me,
Don’t be so concerned with the gifts `neath your tree.
Open that sack called your heart, and share
Your joy, your friendship, your wealth, your care."
The light in the small boy’s eyes was glowing.
"Thanks for your secret. I’ve got to be going."
"Wait, little boy," said Santa, "don’t go.
Will you share? Will you help? Will you use what you know?"
And just for a moment the small boy stood still,
Touched his heart with his small hand
and whispered, "I will."
Retrieved from: http://www.appleseeds.org/christmas-quotes.htm
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+Dear Parents,
December 13, 2015
(I am recycling the reflection and message. I used it for the
third week of Advent four years ago!)
As we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent and the
excitement (and panic) before Christmas intensifies,
reflections like this remind us that we can all be the
bearers of wonderful gifts! Each one of us can share the
Gift of God’s love and life with one another. Let us
answer the call to share the Gift with the same
determination of the little boy, “I will!”
Have a great week! God bless you!
Sister Catherine
Looking Ahead:
December 14
December 15
December 16
HOT LUNCH ORDERS ARE DUE THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18 – PAPER COPY, PLEASE.
Report Cards will be distributed today.
Christmas Band and Strings Concerts 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the Gym
Open House – 9:00 a.m.
Parish Penance Service at 7:00 p.m.
December 17
Kindergarten Christmas Pageant, Church, 10:00 a.m.;
Open House at 7:00 p.m.
December 18
Pre-K Christmas Pageants; HOT LUNCH ORDERS DUE TODAY!
December 20
Chorus Christmas Concert at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel
December 22
Ugly Sweater Day
December 23
Christmas Pageant at 10:00 a.m. in the Church
NOON DISMISSAL with Buses: NO CARES
December 25
Merry Christmas!
January 4
Classes resume!
January 7
Uniform Exchange in the Cafeteria at 7:00 p.m.
January 8
School Liturgy at 10:15
January 15
Faculty Meeting: NOON DISMISSAL with Buses; NO CARES
January 18
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: NO SCHOOL
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SMART AID – Applications for Financial Aid for the 2016-2017 School Year:
Applications for Financial Aid are now available online. This year, all financial aid applications will be processed
through SMART AID. (In the past, you would file an application with PSAS.) Families can access the application at
www.smartaidforparents.com . This is a new company processing the Archdiocesan applications for aid. Since this
is a new program, ALL applicants are NEW applicants for BLOCS. Families are to use the 2014 Income Tax
information, but please include any changes, like the loss of job, for example, that occurred this year. The priority
deadline is set for 12/31/15. (The applications will remain open on a rolling basis. This will be helpful in case your
2015 tax return changes your circumstances and you would like to amend and update your application.)
You will find the directions on the Principal’s Page. Please, if you have any questions, please come to see me and
perhaps we can work on the application together. WE HAVE SOME PAPER APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE IN THE
SCHOOL OFFICE.
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We cordially invite you to join us in our anticipation of and celebration of
Christmas.
Band and String Concerts on Tuesday, December 15, at 7:00 p.m. in the GYM.
Come see the Grade 5 Band, the Advanced Band, the Jazz Band, and the Grade 4
Strings perform.
Please enter by way of the GYM due to PREP classes.
Kindergarten Pageant on Thursday, December 17, at 10:00 a.m. in Church.
Chorus Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 20, at 7:00 p.m. in Church.
Christmas Pageant on Wednesday, December 23 at 10:00 a.m. in the Church.
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Let us continue to pray for the Kokoszka Family at this time. For Mr. Edward Kokoszka, eternal rest grant to him O
Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon him. May His soul and the soul of all of the faithful departed, through
the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
HOT LUNCH ORDERS:
The Hot Lunch Order forms have been posted. They are due on the Friday, December 18.
Please send in the hard, paper copy of this form. We have had a lot of confusion due to
emails requesting hot lunch or faxes that were sent. We also ask that you add up your
totals before you send in the form.
Thank you very much for adhering to the deadline and for sending in the paper copy to school.
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HEALTH UPDATE
It is the time of year when I need to remind everyone of a few things.
1. Physicals: It the nurses do not have your child’s updated or current physical on file, please return it to the
Health Office as soon as possible. Some families have received notifications from the nurses already. The
physicals would have the updated immunizations as well. We do not have a religious exemption in the
Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. UP-TO-DATE IMMUNIZATIONS ARE REQUIRED BY
LAW AND THEY ARE NECESSARY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ALL CHILDREN. Thank you for returning all
paperwork to the health office as soon as possible.
2. 24 Hour–Fever –Free Policy: If your child has a fever, he/she must be fever free for 24 hours before they
return to school. I also ask that if your children have been sick in the morning (or the night before), please
do not send them to school. We have had quite a few children come to school after being sick at home
and then having a relapse or reoccurrence after they’ve arrived. Some do not even make it off the bus or
into their homerooms.
3.
Concussions: Please notify the nurses, homeroom teachers, and the front office (including Sister Diane
and me) if there are any changes to your child’s health or if he/she ever has a concussion. If we receive a
copy of the doctor’s notice, then we will inform members of our staff. We really must have all updates
and information in writing. It is getting very difficult to keep track of health issues if we are only told them
by word of mouth. Thank you for your assistance in this matter!