Each year, every school family is asked to purchase special items for a resident-friend. Moms and dads,brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, hand deliver the Christmas gifts to their friends at the Terrace Nursing Home on Christmas Eve morning. The enthusiasm in our students and their resident friends leaves you in awe as you watch the faces of both young and old come together in the shared moment of Jesus Christ’s hope for us…to love and be loved.

The administrators at the Terrace Nursing Home are thrilled by everyone’s generosity and this holiday tradition. Just around Thanksgiving, the director visits each and every resident-friend and asks them, “What do you want for Christmas?” These ideas are then given to our school so that everyone at the Terrace receives something special they hoped for.

Often times our project needs a little extra help in the way of gift cards from local stores such as Jewel, Kohl’s, Target, and Borders. At the last moments just before Christmas Eve, new resident-friends join the Terrace and we want to make sure we have gifts for them, too. So our school committee will do last minute shopping. If you would like to donate to this important program, please drop off any gift card or monetary donation to the school office or the parish office.  If you would like a name of resident-friend so that you can make their Christmas special with a gift, please call the school office at 630-231-1776.

May we be ever thankful for the blessings that surround us and in Christ’s peace may we find our kneeling places before the newborn King. From all of us at St. Mary’s Parish and School, we wish a Merry Christmas to our resident-friends.

Justo cuando se nos aclara que una nueva

Promesa de Año Nuevo debe incluir el ir mas despacio, las familias de la escuela parroquial de Santa María están ocupadas haciendo mas tibias las vidas de otras personas. Esos esfuerzos traerán una vez mas alegría a los residentes del asilo West Chicago Terrace, como ha sido nuestra tradición en los últimos años. El programa denominado “Ángeles de Adviento,” lleva calidez y amor a cada uno de nuestros amigos del asilo. Algunas personas residentes del lugar, raramente son recordados y visitados. Este regalo de tiempo que se les brinda les inspira esperanza para hacer nuevos amigos, paz en sus corazones y les hace sentir amados y alegres en esta santa temporada del año.

Cada año, las familias de la escuela compran artículos especiales para esos residentes-amigos. Mamas, papas, hermanos y hermanas, familiares y amigos, llevan y entregan personalmente regalos navideños a los residentes el día 24 de diciembre. El entusiasmo de nuestros estudiantes y de los amigos de los residentes nos dejan sorprendidos al mirar sus rostros tanto de los jóvenes como de los viejos uniéndose y compartiendo un momento con Jesucristo y su esperanza de amar y ser amados.

Los administradores del lugar están maravillados por la generosidad de todos en estos tiempos de tradición. Cerca del Día de Acción de Gracias, la directora visita a todos y cada uno de los residentes y les pregunta “Que quiere usted para Navidad?” Entonces se hacen sugerencias a los padres de la escuela para que los residentes reciban algo especial que ellos esperaban.  Continuamente nuestro proyecto necesita de ayuda extraordinaria en la forma de tarjetas de regalo de las tiendas locales como Jewel, Kohl’s, Target, y Borders. Antes de la Nochebuena, de ultimo momento, se reúnen amigos de los residentes de la Terraza y queremos asegurarnos de tener algo para ellos también, así que el comité de nuestra escuela hace compras de ultimo minuto. Si usted quisiera donar para este importante programa, puede llevar tarjetas de regalo o donativos monetario a la oficina de la escuela o a la oficina parroquial. O si quisiera el nombre de alguno de los residentes a quien pueda usted hacer un regalo especial, por favor llame a la oficina de la escuela al (630)231-1776.

From the St. Mary’s Parish Bulletin, December 6th, 2009

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served. There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular services.”

1 Corinthians 12: 4-6

Every day at St. Mary’s School, we are blessed to have opportunities to serve and be served – to make a difference in the lives of students, teachers and families in ways that are not easily measured. The gifts that we receive from the Holy Spirit allow us to have an impact on our world, in our classrooms and with each other. And we’re proud to say that at St. Mary’s, it’s always a season for giving and receiving. At any given moment, on any given day, volunteers are using their time and talents in small ways that collectively make a big difference!

To highlight the significance of our volunteers and their acts of kindness, the St. Mary’s PTO will shine a spotlight on various individuals throughout the year and introduce each as “someone you should know.” The new Volunteer Spotlight program will include: a certificate of recognition to the designated volunteer, an announcement flyer (to go home with students), recognition on our PTO Web page, and a special feature on the St. Mary’s Voices Blog.

We recognize the value of each and every volunteer–from auction organizers and class party helpers to Market Day sorters and yearbook editors. Together they help foster the spirit of giving and the sense of family that are so uniquely St. Mary’s. They are the reason we can say with pride: St. Mary’s School volunteers don’t only make a difference, they make the difference!

Please join us in celebrating our September and October Spotlight Volunteers!

Congratulations to our September 2009
Volunteer Spotlight Recipient:

Christina DiCiaula

We recognize and applaud Christina for all of her many gifts and talents. We spotlight her generosity and creativity in fashioning a custom food service for the Teacher’s Tea event and for the Bishop’s Luncheon hosted for Bishop Sartain’s visit to St. Mary’s School.

We recognize and applaud Susanne for all of her many talents and gifts of time to the St. Mary’s school community. We spotlight her dedication to students through her work with the Junior High Project and Girl’s Volleyball. She has made a difference in the lives of many of our children, and we are thankful.

Behind-the-scenes, Suzanne coordinates a myriad of critical school functions, including (but not only) the School Directory, the Lunch Parents Program, The Volunteer Program and the St. Mary’s School Auction.

Thank you, Susanne–we are blessed!

Angelina Flores earned the Student Council's "I Make a Difference" Award, which gave students the opportunity to recognize and thank each other for making a difference through daily acts of kindness and support. Congratulations, Angelina!

In October, our students helped to make a difference by raising money in support of breast cancer research and treatment.

]]> http://stmarywc.org/voices/2009/11/12/photo-friday-students-making-a-difference/feed/ 0 http://stmarywc.org/voices/2009/10/13/saint-damien-of-molokai/ http://stmarywc.org/voices/2009/10/13/saint-damien-of-molokai/#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:52:34 +0000 St. Mary's Voices http://stmarywc.org/voices/?p=39 Saint Damien of Molokai offers us an excellent example of what it means to make a difference in the world.

How will you make a difference in the world today? Youth Noise offers the following ten suggestions:

Help others.

Be honest.

Respect others.

Be kind.

Be patient.

Care about things.

Be an example.

Love others.

Think before you act.

Encourage.

Be honest.

Respect others.

Be kind.

Be patient.

Care about things.

Be an example.

Love others.

Learn more about Christian Saints and Heroes at Catholics Online.

Each year, St. Mary’s School selects a theme to guide and enrich  learning.  This year’s theme is “Go Make a Difference!” Activities are planned throughout the year to help teach faculty, students, and parents that there are many ways we can all make a difference in the world. Here are just a few of the “make a difference” activities our students are engaged in now:

• The kindergarteners enjoyed acting out the bible story “Let the Children Come to Me.” They also had a special celebration for Mary’s birthday on September 8.

• Students in Kindergarten through 8th grade have opportunities to help plan and participate in a weekly mass. As soon as students are able to read (usually by December in kindergarten), they get a chance to have a reading part in the mass.

• Our 4th graders adopted a U.S. Army lieutenant who is stationed in Iraq. They send him pictures and emails and remember him in their daily morning prayers. They will have a special welcome home celebration for him in November when he finishes his first deployment.

• The Family Groups Program follows the example of the Holy Family. Family Groups combine small groups of students from various grades, Kindergarten through eighth, with the oldest student in each group acting as the “head of the household.” At several points throughout the year, the group gathers for a school-wide activity, during which each group goes to an assigned classroom to engage in an educational activity led by the “head of the household” under the supervision of the classroom teacher. This program offers an opportunity for multi-age interaction, emphasizing nurturing and acceptance of others. Each Family Group has a Saint’s name. At the first Family Group gathering, students take time to explore the important characteristics of their Saint.

St. Mary’s is excited to welcome 22 new families to our school family this year. Please keep our school in your prayers as we strive to be the hands of Christ reaching out to those in need–learning how to make a difference in the world!

Thanks to Mrs. Bullock for submitting this article.