Donna Illerbrun, Principal
 

March 4, 2010

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are now in our third week of Lent. How are we preparing for Easter? Have we gone to Reconciliation? Have we given up on bad habits, and made promises to become better? Are we actively trying to become disciples of Christ? Lent is so much more than giving up chocolate or soda. It is about examining our life and finding ways to make it better. It is a time to ask, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” It is a time to ask ourselves, “Am I the person that God wants me to be? If not, how can I become that person? What changes can I make that will make Him proud, and that will make a difference in His kingdom on Earth?”

Next week our students grades 3-8 will be going to Reconciliation. The students will have a chance to cleanse themselves of past sins and to go forward with a clean slate. We are so blessed to have this Sacrament. We can feel God's blessing as the priest says, “Through the power of the Holy Spirit I absolve you of your sins. Go forth and sin no more.” It is like a giant weight being lifted from our shoulders. Each and everyone of us is a gift from God. We each have talents and gifts that He has given us. My prayer is that we can find these gifts and share them with each other. Our students have many gifts that they bring to our school. Our teachers share their many gifts on a daily basis with our students. We are a small school and the benefits are immense. We are a family. Let us pray together, as a family, that our school will continue to grow and to be that beacon of light that we all so desperately need.

This Sunday is the first Sunday of the month, which means it is a School Mass. The sixth grade class will be sponsoring the Mass. It is also our first Bake Sale. The fourth and sixth grade class will be working together to make this a successful event. I know that some feel they are being “nickeled and dimed” to death. That is not the intention. We try to have as few as possible fund raisers. However, the families did not participate in the Koru fundraiser earlier this year as well as we had hoped. Each year we complete a budget for the following year. Fund raising is a means to keep the cost of tuition as low as possible. We have one of the lowest tuition costs in town. In order to do this we need to make up the difference through fund raising. I also write grants and send out letters of appeal to local business and churches. This year our budget has a fund raising amount of $50,000.00. We currently have raised about $14, 000.00 and have $36,000.00 more to meet our budget. The Bake Sales will help if we all work together. The Golf Tournament is our largest event. This is scheduled for May 2, 2010. We still need your support. If you have or know of a business that would like to sponsor a hole, please let me know. We also are putting together teams of 4 for the tournament. Please see the attachment for more details. Your help and cooperation in all of our events truly are greatly appreciated!

Heavenly Father,
Open our hearts that we may reveal your love for all people. Cleanse us from our wrong doings, and make us a model for those around us. Help us to be leaders of what we know to be right, and to dissuade those that choose to do wrong. Let us fast from hurtful actions and feast on showing your love and grace to those we encounter. May your love come upon us and strengthen us to do your will.
We ask this in your name. Amen


Mrs. Donna Illerbrun, Principal