Thursday, December 17, 2015

ICS Newsletter: Thursday December 17, 2015

Upcoming Events
December
17 - Advent / Christmas Program, 7:00 p.m., St. Michael Hall
18 - ½ Day; ICS Christmas Celebrations: Grades 3 - 8 at PK's Playzone (see below for details); PreK - Grade 2 at ICS for Winter Wonderland; NO AFTERCARE AVAILABLE
21 – 31 - NO SCHOOL – Christmas Break

January

1 - 4 - NO SCHOOL - Christmas Break
5 - Classes resume (*please note this is a Tuesday)

6 - School Mass (8:30 a.m.), with Warm-up to Worship in SMH at 8:00 a.m.
8 - Geography Bee, St. Michael Hall, 8:30 a.m.
13 - School Mass with Households, 8:30 a.m., Incarnation Catholic Church
15 - End of Quarter 2 / Semester 1
18 - No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
20 - School Mass (8:30 a.m.), with Warm-up to Worship in SMH at 8:00 a.m.
21 - Family Supper with ICS Households; ICS Family Meeting, 7:00 p.m., St. Michael Hall
23 - ICS Family Meeting, 9:00 a.m., St. Michael Hall
25 - ICS - Culver's Spirit Night
27 - School Mass (8:30 a.m.), with Warm-up to Worship in SMH at 8:00 a.m.
29 - Friday Morning Assembly, 8:30 a.m., St. Michael Hall - Kick-off to Catholic School's Week 2016

For a comprehensive look at all of the many activities we have planned for this school year, please visit our ICS Calendar Page.


Prayers

We pray for our Advent - Christmas Music Program this evening. May the Lessons and Carols help to bring us closer to each other as a school community and closer to Christ. 

We pray for all ICS families for a blessed Christmas! May the celebration of the birth of our Savior ignite our hearts with love for Him and each other! 

We continue to pray for the Torres family's (Sarah and Sophia) grandmother who is in the hospital. May God usher to her healing and strength.

We also once again lift up in prayer the Wybel family (Mia) as her grandfather is sick in the hospital. Please grant Mia's grandfather a full recovery, Lord. 

Natalie Robles' grandfather is also in the hospital and is still in need of our thoughts and prayers. May Natalie's grandfather get better soon. 

Have a prayer request? Send it to icsmzele@icstampa.org.
  

Hope Will Rise


Our year-long school theme, Hope Will Rise, was created by the ICS Class of 2016 (our current 8th graders). The students selected the scripture above, "Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction and persevere in prayer" (Romans 12:12), as words to inspire and motivate our school community throughout the course of the year.

May these words inspire your Advent journeys and may it help move our entire school community closer together and closer to Christ. This past Friday, ICS students consecrated themselves to our Holy Mother Mary as they prayed the Rosary. In doing so, they rejoiced in hope (imagine the excitement of the Angel Gabriel in telling Mary she was with child!), endured in affliction (we prayed the Sorrowful mysteries) and persevered in prayer (students from PreK4 - Grade 8 actively and reverently participated in this time of prayer!).

Rejoice in HOPE, endure in affliction and persevere in prayer (Romans 12:12).



ICS Advent - Christmas Music Program
Remember that our Advent / Christmas Music Program is scheduled for tonight, Thursday December 17 at 7:00 p.m. in St. Michael Hall. Please see below for these important details about the show:

1. Students should arrive back to school this evening by 6:15 p.m. Students should report to their Homerooms upon arriving at school.

2. Kindergarten, First and Second Graders should wear their "Christmas best" clothing. Students in grades 3 - 8 should wear solid white on top and solid black on bottom.


3. The show will start promptly at 7:00 p.m.


The ICS Advent Program will once again take the form of "Lessons and Carols"(for details, visit here: http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/events/chapel-services/nine-lessons.html). This scriptural 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. 

We will be video streaming the performance into the Media Center for Kindergarten, First and Second graders to be able to see the performance of the older students. Therefore, parents are asked to wait until the conclusion of the performance to get their children. There is no intermission. Thank you in advance for helping us to maintain the reverence and spirit of this performance. 

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


ICS Students are AMAZING
Congratulations to the following students who were recognized at last Friday's Morning Assembly for their good deeds:

Red Ticket Winners
Natalie Robles, Grade 8
Sebastian Mike, Grade
Sofia Lopez, K
Sophia Diana, K

St. Sebastian Student-Athlete of the Month Award Winners
Molly Caballero, Grade 8
Emanuel Saunders, K


Great job, Irish!


ICS Alumni are AMAZING, too!
George Morgan, ICS Class of 2014, was named to the All Star cast at the District 9 Thespians Performance Assessment and One-Act Festival at the University of South Florida. George is currently a junior at Jesuit High School. Congratulations, George! ICS is so proud of you!



ICS Christmas Celebrations - Friday December 18
*Grades 3 - 8:
Students in Grades 3 - 8 are invited to attend a Christmas Celebration on December 18 at PK's Playzone and Grille. Cost is $10 and includes unlimited access to their 6 zones, a slice of pizza and soda. For more details about PK's, please visit their website: http://www.pkplayzone.com. The facility is located a few minutes west of ICS on Hillsborough Avenue. Drop-off and pick-up on Friday December 18 will take place at PK's. Forms, permission slips and payment is required for attendance.

Drop-off for the event will begin at PK's at 8:30 a.m. Pick-up will occur at PK's between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m.

Remember that there is no aftercare available on 12/18/15.

Dress for 12/18 is ICS Incarnation Irish Spirit Day attire. Instead of an ICS top, students are permitted to wear a Christmas shirt; bottoms should follow Spirit Day regulations. Please consult the ICS School Handbook (pg. 73) for details.

Parents with Level II background screening will be admitted and granted access to PK's zones free of charge. ICS faculty and staff will also be on hand to supervise students.

*PreK - Grade 2:
Students in PreK through Grade 2 are invited to attend a Christmas Celebration on December 18 at ICS. This "Winter Wonderland" will be a morning filled arts and crafts, games, songs and snacks!

Drop-off for the Winter Wonderland will occur at ICS between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. in the ICS Pavilion lot.

Pick-up for the Winter Wonderland will occur at ICS at 11:30 a.m. in the ICS Pavilion lot.

Dress for 12/18 is ICS Incarnation Irish Spirit Day attire. Instead of an ICS top, students are permitted to wear a Christmas shirt; bottoms should follow Spirit Day regulations. Please consult the ICS School Handbook (pg. 73) for details.

Remember that there is no aftercare available on Friday 12/18/15.

Please note:
Friday December 18 is a 1/2 day of school devoted to building authentic Christian community and fellowship. As such, this is the day for any Homeroom level Christmas party at either PK's or ICS, respectively.

Remember, there is no aftercare on 12/18/15!


ICS Student Council
Today is your final chance to help our ICS Student Council in their Lightning Tickets Raffle.

The winner of the raffle will receive tickets to the Tampa Bay Lightning games on December 28 vs. Montreal. The two (2) game tickets are valued at $95.00 each. ICS thanks Culver's for donating the tickets.

The winning ticket will be pulled immediately preceding our ICS Advent Christmas Program (December 17) tonight. Tickets will be available for sale up until 6:55 p.m. You do not need to be present to claim your prize.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Stahl: icssstah@icstampa.org.




ICS Family Meetings
Please note the dates above for mandatory meetings for all ICS families - Thursday January 21 and Saturday January 23. Two sessions are available so that you can coordinate your schedules and be sure to attend. Childcare for ICS students will also be available to help make it even easier for your family to attend.

At ICS, we truly desire to partner with you so as to offer your sons and daughters the best possible Catholic education. This meeting will present three practical and essential strategies for parents and families to participate in this partnership with ICS. We look forward to seeing you at either of these meetings. For more details, please contact Mr. Zelenka: icsmzele@icstampa.org.


ICS Week of Code
Last week, ICS students from all grade levels participated in the Hour of Code. The Hour of Code is a world-wide, week-long event focused on promoting computer programming. For more details, watch this short video: 


This is the third consecutive year that ICS has participated. For details about some of the projects completed, visit this link: https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/1749701/

Many thanks to Mrs. Carrier and Ms. Roy for their efforts to coordinate and execute this school-wide event!


ICS Dynamic Learning: Environment
As a follow-up to our fundraising effort to outfit ICS classrooms with Dynamic Learning equipment, "Bouncy Bands" have been installed and in use across the ICS campus for about one month. In response to the effect, one teacher remarked: 
I didn't really notice it with the first couple of students that had them. But the past few that have, WOW! It definitely kept them to time on task for longer periods of time. The most recent students are ones that are out of their seat...moving around...often!  When they had their bouncy bands...I did not talk to them those days, I realized, about staying in their seat to work.
More items are on their way and should be in by the time we return in January! Thank you again to our generous donors who made this initiative an instantaneous reality! 


ICS Irish Athletics
Upon our return from break the Irish Athletic department will welcome the official start of Boys' Basketball and Girls' Flag Football.

Please contact Coach Garofolo either via email: garofolov@icstampa.org, or phone: (813)884-4502 for more information about sports for our ICS student-athletes!

Go Irish!


Christmas Tree Sale
It's not too late to buy your Christmas tree from our Christmas Tree lot! Remember that ICS is the direct beneficiary of this fundraiser!


No Morning or Aftercare on Friday December 18
Due to the unconventional nature of Friday's events and the beginning of Christmas vacation there is NO MORNING or NO AFTERCARE available on Friday December 18.

PreK - Grade 2 students can get dropped off at ICS between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m.

Grade 3 - 8 students can get dropped off at PK's Playzone after 8:30 a.m.

Pick-up for PreK - Grade 2 is at 11:30 a.m.

Pick-up for Grades 3 - 8 is between 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. (ICS must be out of PK's by 11:30!).


Merry Christmas
On behalf of Fr. Michael Suszynski, our ICC Pastor, and the ICS Faculty and Staff, I want to wish our entire school community a very Merry Christmas! Students have focused on the true meaning of Christmas. May Jesus come into your hearts, homes and our world this Christmas. May the presence of friends and family be more of a focus than the presents under the tree. May you make time for prayer and Mass in the midst all of the many commitments of the season. May you fight for joy and may you find it and spread it this Christmas and always!

Merry Christmas!

Projects from ICS students' Hour of Code.


IN KEEPING WITH OUR TRADITION, WE AT INCARNATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL:
Inspire disciples of Christ,
Challenge each individual to be a life-long learner, and
Strive to live our Catholic faith through service to each other and the community.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

ICS Newsletter: Thursday December 10, 2015

Upcoming Events
December
10 - Reconciliation for students in grades 3 - 8; Family Supper with ICS Households
11 - Friday Morning Assembly; Irish Incarnation Day (Any ICS shirt, Jeans or PE shorts, sneakers); ICS Christmas Movie Night, 6:00 p.m. ICS Pavilion 
12 - First Reconciliation 
14 - ICS - Culver's Spirit Night
15 - Optional Advent Program practice for any student in grades 3 - 8, 3:15 - 4:00 p.m. 
16 - School Mass; ICS Early Learning Program Christmas Show after Mass; ICS Early Learning Program Reception in St. Michael Hall after Mass and the Show
17 - Advent / Christmas Program, 7:00 p.m., St. Michael Hall
18 - ½ Day; ICS Christmas Celebrations: Grades 3 - 8 at PK's Playzone (see below for details); PreK - Grade 2 at ICS for Winter Wonderland; NO AFTERCARE AVAILABLE
21 – 31 - NO SCHOOL – Christmas Break

January
1 - 4 - NO SCHOOL - Christmas Break
5 - Classes resume

For a comprehensive look at all of the many activities we have planned for this school year, please visit our ICS Calendar Page.


Prayers

Please pray for the Torres family's (Sarah and Sophia) grandmother who is in the hospital. May God usher to her healing and strength.

We also lift up in prayer the Wybel family (Mia) as her grandfather is sick in the hospital. Please grant Mia's grandfather a full recovery, Lord. 

Natalie Robles' grandfather is also in the hospital and in need of our thoughts and prayers. May Natalie's grandfather get better soon. 

We continue to pray for Mrs. Maria Valdes, ICS Receptionist, and her family as they mourn the loss of her aunt. May God strengthen the Valdes family during this time of grief. 

We continue to pray in thanksgiving for the gift of new life as Mrs. Maria Casanas and her family celebrate the birth of her first grandchild, Alessandra Emilia Maduri.  

Have a prayer request? Send it to icsmzele@icstampa.org.
  

Hope Will Rise



Pope Francis I declared our current liturgical calendar year (Advent 2015 - end of November 2016) as a year of mercy. May we help to educate our children in the concept of mercy and may we do so by showing mercy to our children and to others.

Consider incorporating one of the works of mercy - spiritual or corporal - into your family's Advent preparation. For more details on ideas and/or details about the works of mercy, visit this site: http://dynamiccatholic.com/year-of-mercy/ 

Hope Will Rise because mercy will be offered.   


ICS Irish Athletics
The Irish Athletic department is in between seasons for both the boys and girls. Boys' basketball is in preseason workouts (practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday); up next for the girls is flag football.

Please contact Coach Garofolo either via email: garofolov@icstampa.org, or phone: (813)884-4502 for more information about sports for our ICS student-athletes! 

Go Irish!


Friday Morning Assembly - 12/11/15

Tomorrow, Friday December 11 is our December Friday Morning Assembly at 8:30 a.m. in St. Michael Hall. Enter through St. Michael Hall any time after 8:15 a.m. All are welcome and invited to attend. In honor of preparing for Advent we will pray an entire Rosary instead of just our customary decade. Please come and pray with us! Normal Morning Assembly activities will follow our time of prayer. 

Tomorrow is also a Spirit Day. Please consult our school handbook for details. 


ICS Advent - Christmas Music Program
Remember that our Advent / Christmas Music Program is scheduled for next Thursday December 17 at 7:00 p.m. in St. Michael Hall. Please see below for these important details about the show:

1. Choir practice on Tuesday December 15 is slated as school wide-rehearsal for our Advent Program for students in grades 3 - 8. Any student who would like to attend is welcome to do so. Practice will be after school until 4:00 p.m. Pick-up will take place outside of the school office. 

2. On December 17, students should arrive to school by 6:15 p.m. Students should report to their Homerooms upon arriving at school.

3. Kindergarten, First and Second Graders should wear their "Christmas best" clothing. Students in grades 3 - 8 should wear solid white on top and solid black on bottom.

4. The show will start promptly at 7:00 p.m.

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


ICS Early Learning Program Christmas Show
Our PreK-3 and PreK-4 students will be performing a brief concert after Mass next Wednesday December 16. All families are invited to attend our youngest students spreading Christmas Spirit! A small reception for families of our ICS Early Learning Program (PreK-3 and PreK-4) will follow Mass and the songs in St. Michael Hall. We hope you will be able to join us. If you have any questions, please contact Miss Noto: notor@icstampa.org


ICS Student Council
Our ICS Student Council Lightning Ticket Raffle in partnership with Culver's runs for one more week! Tickets are $5 each; a coupon for a free Culver's sundae accompanies each entry.

The winner of the raffle will receive tickets to the Tampa Bay Lightning games on December 28 vs. Montreal. The two (2) game tickets are valued at $95.00 each.

The winning ticket will be pulled immediately preceding our ICS Advent Christmas Program (December 17). You do not need to be present to claim your prize.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Stahl: icssstah@icstampa.org.



ICS Christmas Pies
ICS has partnered with Village Inn for our first Christmas Pie Fundraiser!

Next Wednesday 12/16 is the deadline if you would like to purchase a PIE GIFT CARD, good for one Village Inn Pie. 

The cards are $12.50 each and checks can be made payable to ICS. The gift cards will be in the Front Office for pick up, or will be sent home in your child’s Thursday envelope on 12/17.

Please Note:
**These are live gift cards – if you misplace it we are unable to refund your money.
**The cards can be used to purchase pies at any Village Inn restaurant, and have NO EXPIRATION. These would make a great gift as well!  The flavors in the $12.50 deal include: French Silk, Cherry, Coconut Cream, Pumpkin, Berry, Apple, Lemon Meringue, Strawberry Rhubarb, and Lemon Supreme.
**If you would like to purchase a flavor not included in this list, you may still use the value of the card ($12.50) and just pay the difference at the Village Inn Restaurant towards the pie you want.  Cards are not redeemable for anything other than pies.  You must still place your pie order with the Village Inn location where you would like to pick up your pie, or you can purchase what is available at their restaurant on a first come first serve basis.  
**ICS will receive 30% of each sale!


ICS Christmas Movie Night
On Friday December 11, we will host our first ever ICS Christmas Movie Night! Similar to our event in October, the cost for admission is $10 per family. Pizza, popcorn, hot chocolate, soda, water and other snacks and goodies will be available for purchase during the show. We will also have Christmas activities and photos available for families in attendance. Feel free to dress in coordinated clothing, Christmas sweaters, or something festive for your family picture. We will also have some holiday props ready and available. 

Please note
Students in attendance must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times! Students dropped off for this event will not be permitted to stay.

Thank you in advance for your adherence to this policy. 

If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact Mr. Zelenka: icsmzele@icstampa.org


Christmas Tree Sale
It's not too late to buy your Christmas tree from our Christmas Tree lot! Remember that ICS is the direct beneficiary of this fundraiser!


ICS Christmas Celebrations
*Grades 3 - 8:
Students in Grades 3 - 8 are invited to attend a Christmas Celebration on December 18 at PK's Playzone and Grille. Cost is $10 and includes unlimited access to their 6 zones, a slice of pizza and soda. For more details about PK's, please visit their website: http://www.pkplayzone.com. The facility is located a few minutes west of ICS on Hillsborough Avenue. Drop-off and pick-up on Friday December 18 will take place at PK's. Forms and permission slips are in today's Thursday envelope.

Drop-off for the event will begin at PK's at 8:30 a.m. Pick-up will occur at PK's between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m. Remember that there is no aftercare available on 12/18/15.

Parents with Level II background screening will be admitted and granted access to the zones free of charge. ICS faculty and staff will also be on hand to supervise students.

*PreK - Grade 2:
Students in PreK through Grade 2 are invited to attend a Christmas Celebration on December 18 at ICS. This "Winter Wonderland" will be a morning filled arts and crafts, games, songs and snacks!

Drop-off for the Winter Wonderland will occur at ICS between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m.

Pick-up for the Winter Wonderland will occur at ICS at 11:30 a.m.

Remember that there is no aftercare available on Friday 12/18/15.

Please note:
Friday December 18 is a 1/2 day of school devoted to building authentic Christian community and fellowship. As such, this is the day for any Homeroom level Christmas party at either PK's or ICS, respectively. Remember, there is no aftercare on 12/18/15!



IN KEEPING WITH OUR TRADITION, WE AT INCARNATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL:
Inspire disciples of Christ,
Challenge each individual to be a life-long learner, and
Strive to live our Catholic faith through service to each other and the community.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

ICS Newsletter: Thursday December 3, 2015

Upcoming Events
December
5 - First Reconciliation Workshop
7 - Creative Writing Club, 3:15 - 4:00 p.m.
8 - School Mass, Immaculate Conception; Optional Advent Program practice for any student in grades 3 - 8, 3:15 - 4:00 p.m. 
9 - Altar Server Training
10 - Reconciliation for students in grades 3 - 8; Family Supper with ICS Households
11 - Friday Morning Assembly; Irish Incarnation Day (Any ICS shirt, Jeans or PE shorts, sneakers); ICS Christmas Movie Night, 6:00 p.m. ICS Pavilion 
12 - First Reconciliation 
14 - ICS - Culver's Spirit Night
15 - Optional Advent Program practice for any student in grades 3 - 8, 3:15 - 4:00 p.m. 
16 - School Mass; ICS Early Learning Program Christmas Show after Mass; ICS Early Learning Program Reception in St. Michael Hall after Mass and the Show
17 - Advent / Christmas Program, 7:00 p.m., St. Michael Hall
18 - ½ Day; ICS Christmas Celebrations: Grades 3 - 8 at PK's Playzone (see below for details); PreK - Grade 2 at ICS for Winter Wonderland; NO AFTERCARE AVAILABLE
21 – 31 - NO SCHOOL – Christmas Break

January
1 - 4 - NO SCHOOL - Christmas Break
5 - Classes resume

For a comprehensive look at all of the many activities we have planned for this school year, please visit our ICS Calendar Page.


Prayers

We pray for Mrs. Maria Valdes, ICS Receptionist, and her family as they mourn the loss of her aunt. May God strengthen the Valdes family during this time of grief. 

We pray in thanksgiving for the gift of new life as Mrs. Maria Casanas and her family celebrate the birth of her first grandchild, Alessandra Emilia Maduri.  

We also pray in thanksgiving for the smooth recovery of Mrs. Michele Moody. Mrs. Moody is doing very well and is recovering quickly. We praise God for His goodness and hope that Mrs. Moody continues her speedy recovery to full health and mobility soon!

We pray in thanksgiving for the protection of life and property during this past Hurricane Season. 

We pray for a faith-filled Advent for all members of our school community. May we intentionally make space for Christ this Advent to come into our hearts, homes and world this Christmas! 

We continue to lift up in prayer the Mazza family (Alex, Grade 6) as they mourn the loss of Mr. Mazza's father. May God surround the Mazza family with His love, peace, strength and consolation during this difficult time. 

Have a prayer request? Send it to icsmzele@icstampa.org.


Schedule Updates
Please note the following tweaks in the upcoming ICS Calendar:

1. The December Friday Morning Assembly has been moved from this Friday December 4 to next Friday December 11. We hope that you will be able to join us next Friday December 11. 

2. Similarly, we will move our ICS Spirit Day to coincide with Friday Morning Assembly. So ICS Spirit Day is also next Friday December 11. 

3. Students who have received the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Grades 3 - 8) will participate in confessions on Thursday December 10. 

4. As you may have noticed, we were not able to schedule our annual Santa's Breakfast this year due to conflicts with the use of St. Michael Hall. As a way to reimagine this important community building event, we will host a Christmas Movie Night on Friday December 11 in the ICS Pavilion. See below for more details.

5. We also ran into a scheduling conflict for our annual Christmas Skating party on Friday December 18. As such, we have secured a partnership with PK's Playzone and Grille for ICS students in grades 3 - 8. Cost will be $10 and will include unlimited access to their 6 zones (rock climbing, mini golf, bowling, bumper cars, ropes course and laser tag), a slice of pizza and soda. PK's will be opening its facility to just ICS on the morning of December 18. See below for more details. 

If you have any questions about any of these schedule updates please contact the Front Office: (813)884-4502. 
  

Hope Will Rise


We can do hard work. Taking the advice of St. Francis of Assisi, one of the ways to do so is to break the overall task into simple components: doing what's necessary and then doing what's possible. This fundamental approach to difficult projects, when applied systematically and with faith, can lead to the accomplishment of AMAZING things. 

At ICS we help our students believe in the power they wield. Please help us in delivering the message that we can do hard work. 

Hope Will Rise.  


ICS Irish Athletics
*Girls Basketball Schedule 2015
Playoffs: Week of December 7. The exact date, time and location of the girls' first playoff game will be determined and disseminated tomorrow, Friday December 4. 

Please contact Coach Garofolo either via email: garofolov@icstampa.org, or phone: (813)884-4502 for more information. 

Go Irish!


ICS Advent - Christmas Music Program

Remember that our Advent / Christmas Music Program is scheduled for Thursday December 17 at 7:00 p.m. in St. Michael Hall. Please see below for these important details about the show:

1. Choir practices on Tuesday December 8 and 15 are slated as school wide-rehearsals for our Advent Program for students in grades 3 - 8. Any student who would like to attend is welcome to do so. Practice will be after school until 4:00 p.m. Pick-up will take place outside of the school office. 

2. On December 17, students should arrive to school by 6:15 p.m. Students should report to their Homerooms upon arriving at school.

3. Kindergarten, First and Second Graders should wear their "Christmas best" clothing. Students in grades 3 - 8 should wear solid white on top and solid black on bottom.

4. The show will start promptly at 7:00 p.m.

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


ICS Early Learning Program Christmas Show
Our PreK-3 and PreK-4 students will be performing a brief concert after Mass on Wednesday December 16. All families are invited to attend our youngest students spreading Christmas Spirit! A small reception for families of our ICS Early Learning Program (PreK-3 and PreK-4) will follow Mass and the songs in St. Michael Hall. We hope you will be able to join us. 


ICS 4th Annual Family Fun Run
Thank you to the many families who attended our 4th Annual ICS Family Fun Run on Saturday November 20. Special thanks to Mrs. Stavish for her efforts in helping with the event! Extra run t-shirts are available for sale from the front office for $10 each. 


ICS Student Council
Our ICS Student Council Lightning Ticket Raffle in partnership with Culver's is in full swing. Tickets are $5 each; a coupon for a free Culver's sundae accompanies each entry.

The game is scheduled for December 28 vs. Montreal and the two (2) tickets are valued at $95.00 each.

The winning ticket will be pulled immediately preceding our ICS Advent Christmas Program (December 17). You do not need to be present to claim your prize.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Stahl: icssstah@icstampa.org.




Altar Server Training
Altar Sever training will take place this coming Wednesday, December 9 at 3:30 p.m. after school. All interested and as well as current 5 – 8 grade altar servers will meet Mr. Woodward at the picnic tables outside of the middle school wing at 3:30 p.m. Altar Sever training will take place in the Church and will last until 5:00 p.m. Pick up at 5:00 p.m. will take place outside of St. Michael Hall. It is important for both new and returning Altar Servers to attend practice since many small details regarding the way we serve Mass has changed. Coach Garofolo has given all athletic participants permission to attend Altar Sever training for approximately 30 minutes, prior to attending their scheduled practice. 

If you have any questions please contact Mr. Woodward: woodwardb@icstampa.org


ICS Alumni are AMAZING!
Peter Tanner ('14) was selected as one of 4 students to participate in a college level medicine course at Berkeley Preparatory. He will earn two college credits for his efforts! Great job, Peter!



ICS Christmas Pies
ICS has partnered with Village Inn for our first Christmas Pie Fundraiser!

Please return the form included in today's envelope to the ICS Front Office  by Wednesday 12/16 if you would like to purchase a PIE GIFT CARD, good for one Village Inn Pie. 

The cards are $12.50 each and checks can be made payable to ICS. The gift cards will be in the Front Office for pick up, or will be sent home in your child’s Thursday envelope on 12/17.

Please Note:
**These are live gift cards – if you misplace it we are unable to refund your money.
**The cards can be used to purchase pies in any Village Inn restaurant, and have NO EXPIRATION. These would make a great gift as well!  These flavors are included in the $12.50 deal: French Silk, Cherry, Coconut Cream, Pumpkin, Berry, Apple, Lemon Meringue, Strawberry Rhubarb, Lemon Supreme.
**If you would like to purchase a flavor not included in this list, you may still use the value of the card ($12.50) and just pay the difference in the Village Inn Restaurant towards the pie you want.  Cards are not redeemable for anything other than pies.  You must still place your pie order with the Village Inn location where you would like to pick up your pie, or you can purchase what is available in their restaurant on a first come first serve basis.  
**ICS will receive 30% of each sale!


ICS Christmas Movie Night
On Friday December 11, we will host our first ever ICS Christmas Movie Night! Similar to our event in October, the cost for admission is $10 per family. Pizza, popcorn, hot chocolate, soda, water and other snacks and goodies will be available for purchase during the show. We will also have Christmas activities and photos available for families in attendance. 

Please note
Students in attendance must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times! Students dropped off for this event will not be permitted to stay.

Thank you in advance for your adherence to this policy. 


Christmas Tree Sale
Hopefully you have noticed the Christmas Tree sale on the front of our Incarnation property. Please patron this sale as the school is the direct recipient of this fundraiser! Thank you!


ICS Christmas Celebrations
*Grades 3 - 8:
Students in Grades 3 - 8 are invited to attend a Christmas Celebration on December 18 at PK's Playzone and Grille. Cost is $10 and includes unlimited access to their 6 zones, a slice of pizza and soda. For more details about PK's, please visit their website: http://www.pkplayzone.com. The facility is located a few minutes west of ICS on Hillsborough Avenue. Drop-off and pick-up on Friday December 18 will take place at PK's. Forms, permission slips and more information will be sent next Thursday!

*PreK - Grade 2:
Students in PreK through Grade 2 are invited to attend a Christmas Celebration on December 18 at ICS. This "Winter Wonderland" will be a morning filled arts and crafts, games, songs and snacks! More details will be sent next week!

Please note:
Friday December 18 is a 1/2 day of school devoted to building authentic Christian community and fellowship. As such, this is the day for any Homeroom level Christmas party at either PK's or ICS, respectively.


Advent
Despite all of the many things taking place between now and December 18, please know of the prayers and support of our school community for you and your families during this holy season of Advent.

Advent means, "to come to", and students have been focusing on the fact that Advent is a time for us to prepare for Christ to come to our hears, homes and world!

Please take time this Advent to slow down, pray, receive the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation and perform service to others. For some great Advent resources, visit any of the following links:

*Best Advent Everhttp://dynamiccatholic.com/year-of-mercy/best-advent-ever/#bae_about

*Advent Conspiracy:


*Advent Reflection - "Do You Hear What I Hear"http://faith.nd.edu/s/1210/faith/social.aspx?sid=1210&gid=609&pgid=28326&cid=55159&ecid=55159&crid=0

Make this your Best Advent Ever by becoming your Best Self Ever to have the Best Christmas Ever.
Jesus invites us to the Mass, not the mall. He wants us to engage in the Word, not the worry. He beckons us to his presence in the Eucharist, not to the presents under the tree.
He is calling you into something AMAZING this Advent. May you have the courage to follow Him and may He bless you abundantly this Advent and always. 


IN KEEPING WITH OUR TRADITION, WE AT INCARNATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL:
Inspire disciples of Christ,
Challenge each individual to be a life-long learner, and
Strive to live our Catholic faith through service to each other and the community.