ICS Newsletter 12.4.14

Upcoming Events

12/4 - Children's Grief Awareness Day
12/5 - First Friday Morning Assembly, 8:30 a.m., St. Michael Hall
12/6 - ICS Santa's Breakfast, 8:30 - 11:30 a.m., $6.00 per ticket
12/8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics), School Mass, 8:30 a.m., ICC
12/10 - School Mass, 8:30 a.m., ICC
12/11 - Reconciliation Grades 3 - 8 
12/12 - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
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
Congratulations to Mrs. Desiree Bennington and her husband as they welcomed their new son, Ryan Daniel, into the world last week! Praise God for the miracle of life! 

We pray for the repose of the soul of Mrs. Hall's (2nd grade teacher) Aunt Rose who passed away last week from stage 4 ovarian cancer. May God surround Mrs. Hall and her family with His loving arms during this difficult time.

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

We 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 all of our ICS students and children everywhere who have had to endure the loss of a loved one. May the Prince of Peace take away their grief and offer them comfort and love. 

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 for an end to all forms of violence. 

We pray for peace. 

We pray for our students and their families.

We pray for our teachers. 

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


Thank You
Thank you to Mr. Woodward for coordinating our annual ICS-Chick-fil-A Spirit Night and Christmas Carols and for organizing the administration of Priory Points for students' participation. Thanks as well to all of the families, teachers and teachers who attended this event!


ICS Athletics

Congratulations to the ICS Girls' Basketball team, winners of their last two contests! Great job, Irish! Keep it up!

ICS Boys' Basketball is just getting started. We wish them the best of luck as they begin their season. 

Finally, we congratulate the middle school boys who participated in the Volleyball clinics sponsored prior to Thanksgiving Break. Many thanks to Coach Garofolo for his efforts in initiating this athletic opportunity for our students!

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

Thank you, parents and families and teachers, for all that you do to help our students aim high! Focus on the family and give our children roots and wings!

See below for another challenge that your family could accept to grow closer together and closer to God.

GO: Love.

ICS Advent Program
Our ICS Advent Program is on Thursday December 18. Students should be at the school no later than 6:15 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).  

Unfortunately, due to some renovations to the Church, the Advent Program will most likely take place in St. Michael Hall. We apologize for this inconvenience. An announcement will be made as soon as an exact location is solidified. Regardless of location, though, 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! 

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


Aftercare
Due to Mrs. Bennington's maternity leave, please forward payments for aftercare to the Main Office. If you have any questions, please contact the ICS Office: 813.884.4502.

Also, as you make room for Christ during this Advent season, make room for the gifts of love made in the spirit of Christmas by considering making donations of used sporting goods (balls, equipment), board games and books to the ICS Aftercare Program. If you have any questions or would like to make a donation, please contact the Main Office. 


ICS Santa's Breakfast
Our annual ICS Santa's Breakfast is Saturday December 6 in St. Michael Hall. Please purchase your tickets in advance: $6.00 per person which includes breakfast (pancakes, eggs, bacon / sausage, juice)  and a visit to Santa! We look forward to seeing you there! Students in attendance will earn Priory Points towards this year's Irish Cup Championship! 

8:30 - 11:30 a.m. in St. Michael Hall!

Volunteers and donations are needed. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Mrs. Rosario at: cmcivette@earthlink.net. Donations needed are as follows: eggs, milk, orange/apple juice, coffee, plain vanilla cupcakes with no frosting, individual butter, individual creamers, individual syrups, danish pastry, mini muffins, doughnuts, plates, cups, and plastic silverware. 

First Friday Morning Assembly

Please consider joining us for First Friday Morning Assembly on Friday at 8:30 a.m. in St. Michael Hall. We will pray a decade of the Rosary, disseminate Red Ticket, Incarnation Inspiration, Student-Athlete of the Month and Crossfit Leadership awards among a few other surprise activities! 

We hope to see you there!


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 is starting 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. Please see the flyer in today's Thursday packet for more details. 

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!

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.