GLORY OF CHRISTMAS
Once again, our students will present in music and drama the story of the birth of Christ. Our afternoon presentation this year is December 8 at 12:30, and evening presentations of "The Glory of Christmas" will begin at 7:00 on December 9 & 18. Students in grades 5-8 should arrive at school by 6:20 to have enough time to get into costume. All others (grades 1-4) should arrive by 6:30. Attendance is required, as the presentation is part of our Religion curriculum.
All school families are invited to attend the presentations. Feel free to invite your family and friends. A reception will follow the December 18th presentation.
PRIMARY DEPARTMENT CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
The preschool through third grade will be presenting a special Christmas program called “Miracle At Midnight” on Friday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m. It promises to be a delightful evening. Light refreshments will be served. If you can’t make the 7:00 presentation, there is a dress rehearsal at 10:00 Friday morning.
ADVENT RETREAT DAY
Our annual Advent retreat day is being planned for the students on Friday, December 5. Students will take part in a variety of activities built on the day’s theme “Miracle At Midnight.”
ADVENT ACTIVITIES
In the spirit of the season, the students will begin collecting for an African girl we sponsor at Materi Girls’ School in Meru, Kenya. The students will also be writing to the shut-ins of the parish and some classes plan to visit nursing homes. Every Advent, the school collects Hats for the Homeless. You do not have to limit yourselves to hats, however. Items are to be new, and may include gloves, mittens, toys, markers, crayons, coloring books, etc. Anything is appreciated.
CHRISTMAS BAND CONCERT
Our school band will put on a Christmas program at 1:00 on December 18 in the school gym. All are invited to attend.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to John Selby and Aaron Summers for making Northwest District Honors Band this year. Their concert will be held at Quigley High School on Sunday, March 15, 2009.
Congratulations also to the students who won the Go Green Poster Contest sponsored by the Beaver County Conservation District. Madison Mussey and Olivia Freed each took second place in their classes and Lukas Goehring won first place in the 5th grade category.
QUIGLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Any 8th grader who would like to attend Quigley High School next Fall are encouraged to take the entrance exam offered Friday, December 5 and again on Saturday, December 6 from 8:30 AM through 11:30 AM. If you have any questions, call Rita McCormick, Director of Admissions at 724-869-2188 Ext. #32.
RAFFLE TICKETS
Please return the money for the lottery ticket going off on the evening of December 11. We cannot honor the winning ticket if it is not in our possession.
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS
Very attractive Christmas ornaments depicting St. Mary’s Church are being sold for $5.00.
CHRISTMAS COOKIES
DMA is holding a Holiday Bake Sale featuring Christmas Cookies the weekends of December 13/14 and 20/21 after all the Masses. Nut Cups, Peanut Butter Balls, Snowballs, Mini-cheesecakes and Lady Locks are just a few varieties that will be available.
While doing your holiday baking, please bake extra to donate to DMA. If you bake early, we’ll be glad to store the cookies in one of our freezers. Also, if you are willing to work during one of the two weekends we will be selling them, please call either the school or Lori Brown at 724-843-2483. Thanks!
ELKS HOOP SHOOT
Our students are invited to participate in the annual Elks Hoop Shoot being held in our gym on Wednesday, December 10 at 7:00. See the flyer on the gym doors for more information.
AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT
A local piano teacher has offered to come to our school to give our students private lessons for $15.00 a half hour. If anyone is interested in taking piano lessons after school, please write me a note (or e-mail) and include the day of the week that fits best into your schedule.
SCHOOL CANCELLATIONS
Please remember to tune in to either WBVP or KDKA radio stations or KDKA or WPXI television stations for school cancellations or delays if the weather is inclement. In the case of a two hour delay, Preschool will be held from 10:00-12:00.
Please note: If you hear Beaver Falls or Blackhawk school districts canceled, know that we will be canceled as well since we use their buses. I have to wait to hear from Beaver Falls administrators before I can call DMA’s cancellation in to the stations.
GENEROUS BENEFACTORS...
Last year at this time, I announced that we had received a rather large donation for the school from Mr. and Mrs. Robert Morelli. Again this year, they have made a generous donation to our school. The Morelli’s don’t want public recognition for this, but I did ask if I could at least tell the DMA families who these grand benefactors are and they agreed to that! Feel free to drop them a line of gratitude if the spirit moves you! Their address is 2 Lindsay Drive, Beaver Falls, PA 15010.
Furthermore, we received another generous donation from Mr. Richard Ostrom. In addition, Mr. Ostrom was awarded the Ben Franklin Entrepreneurship Award and he designated Divine Mercy Academy Angel Fund to receive his $500 award. Mr. Ostrom has quietly and consistently helped our school for years. If you would like to send him a congratulations for his well deserved award, or a thank you, direct it to RAM Acoustical, 608 2ND Ave. Beaver Falls, PA 15010
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
Every year, I include a copy of a "Christmas Novena" in my December newsletter. It begins on the feast of Saint Andrew (November 30) and continues until Christmas Eve. Every day you say the following prayer 15 times:
Hail and blessed be the hour and the moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour, O my Lord, hear my prayers and grant my desires through the merits of Jesus Christ and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.
CHRISTMAS VACATION
The last day of school is Friday, December 19, 2008. The students will be dismissed at 11:00! School resumes Monday, January 5, 2009.
Students are allowed to wear holiday shirts and sweatshirts during the month of December.
