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O Come, O Come Emmanuel…

This past Sunday, we lit the first candle on our Advent wreath, which symbolizes the liturgical new year and

marks the beginning of the season when we “wait in hope.” We wait for both the birth of the Christ child and

we prepare for his second coming. We “ready the way” for Jesus; we quiet our minds and hearts and lovingly

welcome Him in. The candles on the Advent wreath symbolize hope, love, joy and peace. As we light each

candle, we see that the “Light of Christ” has won over darkness; what a beautiful image and the assurance we

all need right now. The Advent Wreath serves as a powerful visual reminder of the holiness of the season.

The light of the candles invites us to quiet ourselves during this busy time and reflect on the true meaning of

Christmas. Whether at home or at Church, it provides an invitation to wait and pray in hopeful anticipation

for the coming of Christ. We are called to welcome the light of Christ into our lives during this very special

season.

Please remember that on Tuesday, December 8th, there will be no school (no NTI that

day) in observance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

NTI Updates: Mrs. Marcos and Mrs. Harper have spent time during the first two weeks of NTI observing teachers and

students in their Google Meets. We were extremely pleased with what we saw. Our teachers have worked

hard and are delivering engaging and structured instruction. We met with our teachers this week and talked

about increasing the frequency and duration of the Google Meets to provide additional support for our remote

learning. We have also encouraged our teachers to find ways to bring the Advent season to our

students. December is a wonderful month in a school as the excitement for our Savior builds. We hope that

your child can get that same feeling by connecting to their teachers/class. In turn, our teachers ask that you

help your child show up for the Google Meet ready to learn. Here is a quick list of things that will minimize

distractions for your child, as well as the other students who are on the Google Meet:

Students should be dressed appropriately, no pajamas

Students must be sitting up, preferably at a table. (No Google Meets in a student’s bed or laying

down)

No pets may be in the Google Meet

No eating or drinking during the Google Meet

No toys or gadgets should be within reach

December 4, 2020

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Please have all supplies (whiteboards, markers, pencil, paper) out, with you and available for

immediate use

If possible, please try to ensure that no siblings are in proximity to minimize distractions. If that is not

possible, a headset may be utilized.

Please keep your mic muted unless you want to talk, then unmute. (This cuts out background noise.)

If you can help your child with the above expectations, this will also help our teachers. Remote learning

should be somewhat structured, even though the students aren't in the classroom. We continue to thank you

for your partnership with us, as we know that balancing everything right now is very difficult and stressful for

parents. If there is anything we can do as a school to support your family, please let us know.

Important Reminder’s -

If you still need to pick up your child’s books they will be on a table in the gathering space in a bag

with their name on it.

Parents please continue to contact Nurse Emily esalsbury@ihm-ky.org if you have a positive COVID

case in your family or if you have been notified that you are considered a close contact with someone that is

positive. It is essential that we continue to track our data and follow quarantine guidelines while we are in NTI,

which will help us safely transition back to in-person instruction when we are allowed to do so.

Topics covered in this Newsletter

A note from Mrs. Marcos and Mrs. Harper pg. 1 & 2

Dates to put in your Calendar pg. 2

IHM Honor Roll/Saints Awards pg. 3

IHM Christmas Mass times pg. 4

2019-2020 School Yearbook available pg.4

Christmas shopping on Amazon? pg. 4

Counselor’s Corner pg. 5

Youth Ministry News pg. 6

SHDHS HSPT for 8th graders pg. 7

Dates to add to your Calendar December

1st – 7th – NTI from home 8th – No School – Feast of Immaculate Conception

9th – 18th – NTI from home

21st – Jan. 3rd – No School – Christmas Break

January 4th – School Resumes

11th – Tag Day for Pro Life Club - .50 a student or 1.00 a family

18th – No School – Martin Luther King Jr. day

21st – Spirit Wear Day – Students may wear Spirit Wear top with uniform pants. 25th – 29th Catholic Schools Week

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IHM Honor Roll/Saints Awards 2020-2021 1st Trimester All A Honor Roll

Gr. 4: Paige Arlinghaus, Nash Back, Trevor Evans, Gina Jump, Andon Lape, Matthew Schneidt, Megan

Bish, Barret Bitikofer, Aiden Boh, Brooklyn Bowen, Kaylie Bowen, Ben Harvey, Ava Hillenbrand, Eden

Hurm, Camille Magee, Kelly Mueller, William Van Auken, Mackenzie Walsh

Gr. 5: Jackson Auer, Catherine Barsan, Emma Boyce, Nathan Brandt, Noelle Earls, Mackenzie

Erpenbeck, Maria Hauber, Brooke Pagnotto, Kate Seiter, Andrew Witte, Ella Bartel, Samuel Haubner,

Luke Lubert, Isabella McGonagle, Natalie Stow, Brian Tuemler, Carson Weil

Gr. 6: Alex Arlinghaus, Andrew Boh, Lillian Coleman, Lily Garner, Hayden Harlan, Hank Koop, Maddy

Landenwitch, Jonathan Lind, Kali McCane, Ellie Osterkamp, Isabella Romine, Kristina Schmidt, Nolan

Back, Drew Brogan, Sam Dirksing, Ben Gulla, Austin Gumz, Maddy Mast, Kayleigh McCormack, Emily

Stewart

Gr. 7: Kelsey Bollman, Lauren Boyle, Luke Daniels, Maria Dusing, Brady Guard, Juliana Mendez, Julia

Moore, Brady Pagnotto, Evan Parhad, Ella Salinas, Ian Schneidt, Paige VonEye, Elizabeth Warnecke,

Katie Ahern, Stella Bitikofer, Madelyn Calvert, Madi Demler, Tucker Evans, Catherine Kahmann, Caden

Kunstek, Riley Puglisi, Matthew Witte, Matthew Woolf

Gr. 8: Olivia Koop, Kate Lenihan, Tori Lenihan, Clare Slocum, Reece Wagner, Jason Bish, Greta

Bitikofer, Josie Brothers, Wendy Daniels, Maria Earls, Ava Fillhardt, Emma Fillhardt, Grace Gulla, Abby

Hackman, Molly Mast, MacKenzie McMain

A/AB Honor Roll Gr. 4: Leah Bill, Gavin Butler, Elin Fassbender, Caleb Flaig, Caroline Foltz, Annie Ligon, Sophie Ligon,

Caden Marshall, Kamden McCane, Alejandro Mendez, Layton Harvey, Reed Coleman, Jacob Gangwish,

Ethan Gulla, Kourtney Hammel, Ashlyn Landenwitch, Blake Stover, Payton Wright

Gr. 5: Luke Boczek, Piper Feldhaus, Anna Kreimer, Noah Miller, Lyla Price, Landon Schuler, CJ

Shondel, Thomas VanAuken, Tyler Arlinghaus, Teagan Brothers, Sawyer Challis, Carter Denham, Macy

Garner, Margo Harper, Ben Keipert, Ella Koop, Julia Meyers, Shylah Mobley, Nick Thompson

Gr. 6: Kaleb Herms, Kaden Lang, Luke Noble, Jack Nolan, Clayton Schutte, Jocie Shrontz, Jacob

Unkraut, Colin Vinson, Gabi Vinson, Guin Baynum, Lucy Dillon, Alexis Fassbender, Ailey Feldhaus,

Colby Holman, Nicholas Jump, Van Smith, Ethan Stover, Addison Zinser

Gr. 7: Ryan Haas, Olivia Mirus, Gianna Butler, Jake Flaig, Jade Oleson, Brady Schira, Taylor Walsh

Gr. 8: Nate Bessler, Sam Boyce, Brianna Farwick, Ella Johnson, Bella Miller, Addison Millsap, Ava

Oleson, Chloe Shea, Corbin Shondel, Noah Thelen, Ben Unkraut, Nick Boczek, Jordyn Brockman, Will

Carter, Georgia Drees, Delaney Evans, Preston Gumz, Adam Lubert, Jeffrey Pilcher, Mia Rapp, Brandon

Smith, Jake Stewart

Saints Awards

Kindergarten: Henry Jump, John Meihaus, Hannah Rumage, Grace Utz, Nora Boelscher, TJ Daniels,

Emma Serey, Grace Franz, Hudson Hllenbrand

Gr. 1: Nate Koop, Avery Guenther, Laina Dillon, Andrew Schneidt, Jack Foltz, Samantha Kelly, Weston

Zumdick, Michaela Landenwitch

Gr. 2: Dylan Fassbender, Aiden Price, Ava Wadsworth, Wyatt Haubner, Lauren Millsap, Robby

Parish, Henry Boelscher, Zoey Flesch, Nicholas Hauber, Blair Hurm, Anna Lubert, Crosley Slocum

Gr. 3: Aiden Rider, Julianna Sweeney, Caleb Dillon, Kate Dirksing

Gr. 4: Gina Jump, Nash Back, William Van Auken, Brooklyn Bowen, Kaylie Bowen

Gr. 5: Kate Seiter, Andrew Witte, Ella Koop, Carson Weil

Gr. 6: Lily Garner, Maddy Landenwitch, Luke Noble, Kaleb Herms, Sam Dirksing, Lucy Dillon

Gr. 7: Kelsey Bollman, Evan Parhad, Taylor Walsh, Matthew Witte

Gr. 8: Sam Boyce, Reece Wagner, MacKenzie McMain, Brandon Smith

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Immaculate Heart of Mary Christmas Mass times

Thursday, December 24th – 4:00 pm, 6:00 pm & midnight

Friday, December 25th – 9:00 am & 11:00 am

2019-2020 IHM Year Books available for sale

If you are still interested in purchasing a 2019-2020 IHM school year book for $25 please contact Emily

Freihofer at the school office or you may send in the money or check payable to IHM in a marked envelope and

Emily will send the yearbook home with your child. We have a limited quanity left to sell.

Christmas Shopping on Amazon? Help IHM School at the Same Time!

Ordering from Amazon? Don’t forget to use this link. You will still get Amazon’s great prices and IHM

will receive a small percentage of sales.

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Counselor’s Corner: COVID, Stress and Advent By: Ann Williams, School Counselor

As we near the Christmas holiday, many of us are experiencing a different kind of stress than we normally

experience at this time. COVID-19, physical distancing, and now NTI has taken the stress of the holidays

to a whole new level. Each day seems to bring a new challenge or disappointment making our lives feel

chaotic and out of control. In the midst of these challenges, it’s easy to forget the importance of the

season. Advent is the season of hope. It’s a time of waiting and expecting baby Jesus, God to come among

us.

Imagine what could happen if we shifted our focus away from our stress and towards the meaning of

Advent? What if we sat quietly, in the midst of the storm, for a little bit each day to listen for messages

from God? What if we prepared our hearts each day to welcome hope in the world? What if we looked at

our day-to-day chaos as a challenge to bring this hope to others, whether it be our family or members of

our community?

The stress of our daily lives may still be there. Kids will fight over devices. There may still be meltdowns

about homework. But when we shift our mental perspective from stress and distress to challenge, we’re

better equipped to deal with the difficult days. It won’t happen overnight, but like everything else, practice

can lead to excellence.

I challenge you to take a few minutes each day to ponder these questions:

How can I bring the light of hope to my family today? Maybe it’s by hugging family members.

Maybe it’s by singing a song. Maybe it’s by gathering together to play a game or make cookies.

How can I demonstrate patience and waiting? Maybe it’s taking five minutes to reflect on the

daily readings. Maybe it’s by being truly present with family members and listening to what they

have to say. Maybe it’s by spending less time on social media and more time in prayer. Maybe it’s

by letting go of some of your expectations.

How can my family share hope with others? Maybe a simple phone call or letter to a shut-in.

Maybe surprise a neighbor with a treat. Maybe assemble bags of food or hygiene items to donate

to the homeless shelter. Maybe it’s by sharing your faith on social media.

We’re called to be the light in the world. Let’s take a few moments each day to bring that light to others

and place our hope in the coming of our Lord.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” St. Francis Of Assisi

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Youth Ministry News During this time of NTI, Youth Ministry events have also gone online!

Junior High and High-School students are invited Sunday evening December 6th and December 18th for

some virtual fun and prayer together!

Join us on Google Meet Dec 6th for Sunday Scriblio and Sacred Scripture from 7:00 pm-8:30 pm:

https://meet.google.com/bdy-wgii-vit

Join us on Google Meet December 18th for Friday fraternizing and fun from 7:00 pm-8:30 pm for more

virtual fun and prayer together!

https://meet.google.com/rhv-dfmr-qws

NTI Cannot stop us from serving others! For our monthly service project in lieu of canceling our EDGE

Christmas Caroling at Elmcroft, junior high-students are invited to make Christmas Cards for residents

wishing them a Merry Christmas and letting them know they are in our prayers! A corporal act of mercy is

to comfort the sorrowful-let's bring some joy to the isolated this Holiday Season.

Get Christmas cards to Sara Auciello by December 18th to be included in the large mailer envelope sent

from IHM students! You can either leave cards on the table in front of the Youth Ministry office, or mail

them to Sara at her home address at 2937 Blue Rock Road Cincinnati, Oh 45239. If you have questions

about this project, email Sara at sauciello@ihm-ky.org.

Additionally, Sara is attempting to gather information about students who may be interested in

participating in a junior high bible based study this coming spring. If you haven't yet done so, please fill

out this google form to help me learn how to best serve interested students!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfoX921Z1-

QJvakn4npT0GcMlZTQMFCsFMfTGQhQhZH7OPa5g/viewform?usp=sf_link

Thank you to anyone who participated in our donation drive for Pregnancy Center West and Care Net of

Florence! I am no longer collecting donations but if anyone missed the drive and is able, please

prayerfully consider stopping over there and donating diapers, wipes, or new or gently used baby clothes

up to size 2T! Care Net is still in great need, especially of diapers! Please feel free to drop by their

Florence location (7129 Price Pike, Florence, KY 41042) Monday-Thursday from 10am-5pm and drop off

any donations!

In Christ, Sara Auciello Youth Minister|IHM KY sauciello@ihm-ky.org | (859)689-5010, ext 254 “Stay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering, and the lonely right where you are-in your own homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. You can find Calcutta all over the world if you have eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society-completely forgotten, completely left alone.”- St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

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High School Placement Test for 8th grade students

Dear 8th Grade Families,

The High School Placement Test (HSPT) for 8th grade students will take place at St. Henry

District High School on Saturday, December 12. The test starts promptly at 9:00 am and ends shortly after

noon. Students who have approved testing accommodations will start the HSPT at 8:00 am and end around

12:30 pm. (see below for more information).

There are three sections to the HSPT: Reading, Language, and Math. The test helps determine merit-based

scholarships and is one of the various resources used to determine curriculum placement. Per diocesan

policy, merit-based scholarships can only be offered to students from the school where they took the test. If

your student is still deciding where to take the HSPT, please contact the Enrollment Office to arrange a

personalized Admissions Visit.

HSPT Registration Information: To register and submit payment for the HSPT at SHDHS, please

visit www.shdhs.org. Walk-in registrations are welcome (for those without testing

accommodation needs), but to expedite the check-in process, we ask that you complete the

online registration prior to December 12.

Testing Accommodation: Students with approved testing accommodations will start at 8:00 am.

Students requesting extended time are required to submit documentation to our AAIMS

Coordinator, Mrs. Laci Shea, by Friday, November 20. If you have any questions, please contact

the Enrollment Office or Laci Shea at lshea@shdhs.org. Students who register the day of the test

will not receive testing accommodations.

Question and Answer Session: Once your student is checked in for the HSPT on December 12,

stop by our Question and Answer Session from 9:00 - 10:00 am.

If you have any questions about the High School Placement Test or about St. Henry District High School,

please let me know. We look forward to seeing you on December 12!

Billy Sarge

Enrollment Director / Junior Counselor

Saint Henry District High School

(w) 859.525.0255

www.shdhs.org

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