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.