HNM FAMILY BULLETIN-September 20, 2007 (To Download in MS Word Click Here)

Reading: A Key to Your Student’s Success

Experts agree that reading is the heart of school success.  Good readers find it easier to do well in all subjects. And no matter what a child’s age, parents play an important
role as they encourage reading.

One of the greatest gifts parents can give their children is a love of reading.  You can begin by making sure that your home offers many opportunities to develop reading skills. 

Keep lots of reading materials handy.  Make it possible to read anytime, anywhere.  Keep books, magazines, even comic books in your child’s bedroom, the kitchen…and the bathroom.

Create a special reading spot for your child.  Make it comfortable, with good lighting, and away from distractions like the phone or TV.
  
Talk about what family members are reading.  Your interest and enthusiasm will motivate your child to be a reader…and develop a life-long love of reading.

Friday, Sept. 21 

• QSP fundraiser ends. Thank you so much for helping our school!
• Mass (dress-uniform)

Monday, Sept. 24   

• Vision & Hearing Screening  for grades K, 1, 3, 5, and 7, and all new students

HNM 7th Grade Service Project – 7th Grade is collecting Yoplait yogurt pink lids for breast cancer research.  Please help in this cause by saving lids, washing them, and dropping them off in the school office.  With the lids they collect, Yoplait will support Susan G. Komen for the Cure and its efforts to eradicate breast cancer.  This is a chance for each of us to Take part in the search for a cure. Doing your part couldn’t be easier!  Thank you for your support.

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C
September 23, 2007
Read Sunday's Gospel, Luke 16:1-13

Gospel Summary
At first it would seem that this Gospel passage praises dishonesty, but in fact, it gives credit for a clever and quick response. There was a man who managed the land for his master. What his misdeeds were is not quite clear, but something had gone wrong in their relationship and the manager was about to be fired. Not physically able to dig ditches and too proud to beg, the manager worried about how he would live. In a quick response, he went to all the people who owed his master produce and had them change their bills to reflect a lesser amount. In this way the people who saved money would welcome the manger into their homes once he had been fired. The master wasn't rewarding the manager for his dishonesty, but for his cleverness and quick thinking. The point Jesus wanted to make with this parable was to let the crowd know that they should be wise in their use of the world's goods, because if they are used selfishly, they will fail us. However, if we share our resources with others, true wealth will await us in the Kingdom. The final point of Jesus' words was that we cannot serve two masters, God and money.

Reflection for Families
Children learn at a young age that "buying friends" is a possibility. Even we adults use our resources to entertain friends. How often do we do things with our friends that we think will build our relationships by spending money either on food, entertainment, or gifts? The point of this Gospel is to help us remember that the most important way we can use our resources is in the service of others. From time to time, as we see our children selecting elaborate birthday gifts for a friend, or wanting to include friends in an expensive form of entertainment, we may need to remind them and ourselves of the message in Sunday's Gospel.

Bringing the Gospel Into Your Family
Think about the next opportunity each member will have for selecting a gift. It might be for a relative or friend's birthday or Christmas in a few months. Spend some time and energy thinking about a gift that would have special meaning for that friend and begin now to prepare it. Perhaps you could make a collage or scrapbook of your friendship, write a poem, or reflection that speaks from your heart about how much the person means to you. Take the money you would normally have spent on the gift and apply it toward helping someone who is in need.

Discussion Starters
1. The greatest trust someone has shown in me is . . .
2. I tend to serve two masters when I . . .
3. One of the ways I use my resources to serve God is by . . .

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50 YEARS YOUNG

We invite you to our anniversary Mass on Sunday, October 7th, at 10:00 a.m.  We would love to have all the children wear their dress uniforms and the parents wear their HNM wear.  There will be a reception and an Open House following the Mass.

HNM School would like to make a scrapbook of memories for the Sisters of Saint Louis. You might want to submit a poem, a picture or drawing, or even a letter. Whatever you send will be perfect! Please, please contact everyone you know who has ever been associated with the Sisters of Saint Louis and ask them to forward their memories to Candice Kuzmickas @ HNM School 124 S. San Dimas Canyon Rd., San Dimas or email @ hnmschool@holynamemary.org Deadline is Oct. 1st.

REBATES & MERCHANDISE FOR THE SCHOOL – The following are stores or  programs that earn money or merchandise for our school:

Office Depot–5% Back to Schools–the program runs through Dec. 31, 2007.  When you purchase merchandise please remember to say you are from HNM.
Box Tops for Education–This program runs continuously throughout the year.  Please save and turn into school office your box tops from Big G Cereals, Ziploc brand bags/containers, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Kleenex & Scott toilet tissue.
Campbell Soup Labels – Please save and turn them into the school office.
Old Cell Phones, used Printer Ink and Toner Cartridges – Please turn them into the school for recycling.

SCHOOL HEALTH OFFICE COORDINATOR – HNM School is accepting applications for the position of Health Office Coordinator.  This full-time position requires caring for the sick or injured children, maintaining student health records and submitting
annual health reports.  Applicants must be familiar with Microsoft Word and have First Aid and CPR training.  Call Mrs. Kuzmickas at (909)542-0449, ext. 226.

WEEKEND WORK PARTY (WWP) – “NEED HOURS?” We are looking for a parent to be the chairperson for the WWP.  The chairperson is responsible for the organization of a group of parents who volunteer on Saturday or Sunday to do some “odd jobs” around
the school such as painting baseboards, assembling equipment, etc. All members of the WWP receive service hours! If you are interested, please call Mrs. Kuzmickas @ Ext. 226. Your can earn all of your 25 hours by chairing this organization.

SAFEGUARDING THE CHILDREN – HNM School is committed to safeguarding our children. Anyone coming to volunteer At our school, or driving children to and from field trips or sporting events, must be fingerprinted according to the guidelines of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Livescan forms are available from Mrs. Kuzmickas. Livescan is free of charge when you visit the locations listed below. Be sure to return the Livescan form to Mrs. K after fingerprinting.