ICS Newsletter 12.11.14

Upcoming Events

12/11 - Reconciliation Grades 3 - 8 
12/12 - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
12/16 - Family Supper order forms due; forms for Winter Wonderland / Skating Party due
12/17 - School Mass, 8:30 a.m., ICC
12/18 - Family Supper; ICS Advent Program, 7:00 p.m., St. Michael Hall
12/19 - 1/2 Day of School; Skating Party / Winter Wonderland; NO AFTERCARE AVAILABLE
12/22 - 1/2 - Christmas Break

Prayers
We continue to pray for Mrs. Hall and her family as they mourn the loss of her Aunt Rose. May God continue to surround Mrs. Hall and her family with His loving arms during this difficult time.

We pray the recovery of Raymond Campis, the father of ICS graduates Denise and Ashley, as Mr. Campis will be underwent open-heart surgery on December 8. 

We continue to lift up in prayer Mrs. Irene Martinez, the administrative assistant at Incarnation Catholic Church, as both her father and brother are suffering from illnesses at this time. We pray for quick recovery for both of these men and we pray for Mrs. Martinez and her entire family. 

We pray for the healing of Mr. Saul Torres, Sr., the grandfather of Sebastian, Sarah and Sophia Torres. Mr. Torres, Sr. has been critically ill for the past two months. May God's healing hand be with Mr. Torres, Sr. and may God provide strength and peace to the Torres family. 

We pray for those who go without food, shelter and companionship, especially during the winter months and especially during the Holiday season.  

We pray for peace in our world, in our homes and in our hearts. 

We pray for our ICS community as we anticipate our school's feast day - Christmas! Emmanuel, God is with us! May we continue to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus into our world, our hearts and again at the end of time through the mystery of the INCARNATION!

Have a prayer request? Send it to: icsmzele@icstampa.org. Prayers will run for two weeks unless otherwise specified.


Thank You
Thank you to Mrs. Yvette Rosario for all of her hard work and dedication for last weekend's Santa's Breakfast! Thank you to the many families and students who both attended and worked the event. Almost $2000 was raised for the school while at the same time spreading Christmas cheer! GO IRISH!

ICS Athletics

The Varsity Girls' Basketball team concluded their regular season with a winning record! The Lady Irish won the final three games of their regular season schedule to end the year with more wins than losses! Great work, Irish! 

ICS Boys' Basketball is hard at work preparing for the start of their season when we return from Christmas break. We wish them the best of luck and keep them in our prayers as they begin their season. 

For more information about the Irish Athletics Program, especially for a list of the upcoming schedule, please visit Coach Garofolo's Coach's Corner website.

ICS Family Challenge

"I don’t think we’ve fully embraced the radical, transformative power of families who are learning to live in the both-and, who are striving to love everybody first. Can you imagine a world in which an entire generation of children, when asked “Who mattered the most in your family?” could sincerely answer, “We all did.” Can you imagine a generation of kids growing into a generation of adults who, when asked, “And who matters the most in the world?” could answer, “We all do.'"

-Dr. Kelly Flanagan,  Ph.D.

Love your kids. Love your spouse. Love. 

GO: Love.


ICS Advent Program
Our ICS Advent Program is on Thursday December 18. Students should be at the school no later than 6:30  for a 7:00 p.m. start time. Dress code for 3 - 8 is solid white on top and black on the bottom (no leggings and nothing above the knee). Students should report to their Homerooms by 6:30. 

The program will take place in St. Michael Hall at 7:00 p.m. Seats are first come, first served. There is not cost for attendance. 

The ICS Advent Program will take the form of "Lessons and Carols"(for details, visit here: http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/events/chapel-services/nine-lessons.html). This scripture based musical program is set to be an AMAZING night of Christmas spirit! 

The entire event should take less than 60 minutes. After their performances, students will report back to their Homerooms. For security reasons, parents / families should go to their student's homeroom to pick them up after the conclusion of the Advent Program. Students will not be released to parents from the stage. 

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Maniscalco: maniscalcos@icstampa.org. 

First Friday Morning Assembly Awards

Congratulations to the following students recognized last week at our First Friday Morning Assembly:

-St. Sebastian Student - Athlete of the Month: Gentry Burks, Maureen Tanner

-Cross-Fit Leadership Award: Ximena Sanchez

-Incarnation Inspiration Awards: Lizzie Newcom, Kaela Sanchez, Maddie Maroney, Sebastian Torres, Shawna Balco, Shane Oliva, Jose Hernandez - Benitez, Vinnie Amato, Valentino Gomez, Jeremy Rosa, Elias Matos, Alex Gomez, Matthew Graterol

Congrats, Irish! Keep up the good work!

Advent
As we prepare for Christ's coming this Christmas into the world (the Incarnation), into our hearts (prepare Him room) and anticipate His coming again at the end of time, please join ICS in the following Advent activities:

1. #WasteNotWantNot: The school community has been challenged to ensure that food is not being wasted during ICS lunch periods. As we live in such abundance, a "throw it away" culture easily arises - I don't like this, I don't want any more of that - instead of being thankful for the blessings lavishly bestowed upon us. Encourage your students to not waste any food this Advent and prayerfully consider engaging in this challenge yourself. Share your stories of not wasting with #WasteNotWantNot or via our ICS Family Challenge (above). 

2. Metropolitan Ministries Drive: ICS has started our annual Advent/Christmas service project. This year we will be collecting new, unwrapped toys, canned food and new clothes for Metropolitan Ministries. Many of you have generously contributed to this worthwhile cause in the past. The people who will receive these much-needed gifts have SO LITTLE and they are very grateful! This year, there is an even bigger need than ever before. Please consider buying one extra gift next time you go shopping. You will be glad that you did! Thank you for your support and generosity. 

3. Pray: Advent is a great time to attend Mass with more fidelity (if you're not already a weekly attendee) or to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (especially if you haven't been in a while). Pray as a family - before meals, before bed, in the morning before leaving for school / work, or anytime. God will bless your efforts - have faith!

4. Stay tuned next week for a final Advent challenge that will be issued to students. Families, as always, are encouraged to participate as well! 


Next Friday 12/19
Please see the flyers in today's packet regarding next Friday's Winter Wonderland (Grades PreK - 2) and Skating Party (Grades 3 - 8). Permission slips for either event are necessary in order for students to participate. 

The Winter Wonderland event for Grades PreK - 2 will be held at ICS from 8:30 - 11:00. Drop-off will BEGIN at 8:15 a.m. and pick-up will last until 11:30 (starting at 11:00 a.m. from the Pavilion). 

The Skating Party for Grades 3 - 8 takes place at Skate World (7512 Paula Dr., Tampa, FL 33615) from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Drop-off and pick-up occur at and from Skate World. Drop-off BEGINS at 8:45 and pick-up will last until 11:15 a.m. 

This counts as a day of of school for our students; attendance will be taken. However, the absence will not count toward any penalty (specifically 8th grade Perfect Attendance Awards). 

There is no Aftercare available on Friday December 19. 

If you have any questions about either event, please contact the Main Office!

IN KEEPING WITH OUR TRADITION, WE AT INCARNATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL:

Inspire life-long learners,

Challenge each individual to be a disciple of Christ, and

Strive to live our Catholic faith through service to each other and the community.