Principal's Blog
Create a lasting memory! This holiday season, Immaculate Conception School is excited to launch our commemorative brick walkway “Footsteps of Faith: Past… Present… Future.” The walkway will consist of a limestone-block cross centered with the front steps of the school and flanked by two limestone-block side wings. The limestone cross and limestone side wings will be surrounded by red brick pavers.
This is a great way to honor or memorialize a parent, child, or loved one! Accomplishments and special dates can be recognized with the inscription of your choice. The memorial recognition paver that you select will become a permanent part of the “Footsteps of Faith: Past… Present… Future” walkway that serves as the entrance to Immaculate Conception School.
Download a form here or call the school or church office.
For questions or additional information, please contact Sharon Blentlinger at 479-783-6798 or sblentlinger@icschoolfs.org. All gifts are tax deductible!
Our school will donate all money from Tag Day to St. Peter Catholic School in Pine Bluff, AR. This school is a very small school and one of the oldest Catholic schools in the state of AR and has fallen on very difficult financial times. A couple of months ago, the school families were told by the diocese that $175,000 must be raised by the end of December for the school to stay open in January of 2012. Over $150,000 was raised in a short amount of time, so the school will continue until at least May 2012. Tag Day is our way to help!
Catholics throughout the world traditionally honor the Blessed Virgin Mary during the entire month of May. This morning our school brought flowers to honor Mary and crown her Queen of Heaven while singing traditional Mary songs. Each year children in second grade receiving their first Holy Communion are chosen to be part of the May Crowning Court. This year's court is Greta Beasley, Salma Chirinos, Ashley Hill, Yazareth Manjarrez, Summer Schmidt, and Brayden Smith. Congratulations!
The "Covenant Award" is given to sixth grade students who most exemplify the Gospel values to all they encounter. These students were recognized by their classmates as students who most often share and model their relationship with God to peers and others. Classmates wrote that these young men and women were kind to others, good listeners, lived the Gospel, and were models of Christian living!
We are so thrilled to congratulate and recognize four of our sixth grade students who were presented with the "Covenant Award" last Friday at our school Mass! Students from Mrs. Hill's class are: Lydia Weidman, daughter of Daniel and Kathleen Weidman, and Brandon Taylor, son of Anthony and Michelle Taylor. Students from Mrs. Smith's class are: Kelly Montgomery, daughter of Mark and Christie Montgomery, and Kelly Thomas, son of Marshall and Kathy Thomas.
I am so proud of Lydia, Brandon, Kelly and Kelly for their "living" of God's message.
I would like to congratulate all students who participated in BOB (Battle of the Books) this year! There were more than 20 teams from the Fort Smith area, and I.C. came in 2nd place! Next, these boys and girls will head down to St. Joseph's in Conway to compete in the state competition. We will be thinking about and praying for each team as they travel and participate on May 13. Way to go I.C.!
I.C. 1st Place Team
This week our classes will learn more about our brothers and sisters in Haiti, the poorest country in the western Hemisphere. Catholic Relief Services and its local partner, Caritas Haiti, have established an agriculture school to teach farmers about diversifying crops and improving growing methods. The farmers are planting cassia tree seedlings along the hillsides, which will nourish the land with nitrogen and protect the soil from erosion. This program is grounded in the Catholic social teaching principle of Care for God€™s Creation.
Watch a video on Haiti at http://orb.crs.org/countries/haiti/.
As many of you know, Mardi Gras is the precursor to Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Each season of Lent, the Catholic church around the world participates in a special collection called Operation Rice Bowl. This project helps raise money for the poorest of the poor, uneducated and needy all around the world€¦yes, even the United States. When you receive your Rice Bowl, please take a moment to look at the calendar inside the boxes and share with your family. On many of the days it gives statistics and information on the countries Rice Bowl helps and suggestions on donations. For example, one day says- Only 15% of people in Kenya have access to electricity. Give 15¢ for each light switch in your home. What a perfect way to make a connection for students! Or 37 million Indonesians do not have enough food. Give 37¢ to your Rice Bowl for each snack and meal you have today. If families follow the day€™s suggestions each rice bowl will bring in approx. $17! What a tremendous gift and productive Lenten sacrifice!
Thank you to everyone for their support and commitment to I.C. School by attending our annual Spaghetti Dinner! DELICIOUS food and GREAT people!
Let's show Fort Smith why we are the BEST CATHOLIC SCHOOL in our area! Bring a friend or family to see the Preschool and Elemetary building, meet the teachers, and ask questions! See you there!
Thank you so much for all the wonderful and creative ways to say 100! We had a fun day celebrating together!
Tomorrow is the big day€¦100th day of school! Last week, I sent out a project list for each grade. If you are participating, please prepare your items at home and bring or wear them to school in the morning. I can€™t wait to see everyone€™s creations!
Grade K | 100 Autographs | Books are made in school and autographs received during the school day. |
Grade 1 | 100 Hat | Glue, tie, or draw 100 items to a hat. |
Grade 2 | 100 Poster | Glue or draw 100 items on a ½ poster board (11in. x 14in.). |
Grade 3 | 100 Necklace | String 100 items on a piece of yarn or string. |
Grade 4 | 100 Socks | Glue, tie, or draw 100 items to the provided socks. |
Grade 5 | 100 T-shirt | Glue, tie, or draw 100 items on a t-shirt. |
Grade 6 | 100 Years Old! | Dress up as a 100 year old person! |
I would also like to remind you of our January Christian Service Project. We are collecting money for the Heart to Heart Pregnancy Support House through their Baby Bottle campaign. Each class has a large €œBaby Bottle€ bank to collect the donations. Our goal is to reach $1500 or approximately $5 a child. Please help us reach our goal and help children in our community!
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK begins Sunday! Join us at 10:00 a.m. Mass for a special celebration and the complimentary Pancake Breakfast afterwards. Check your Tuesday Folders for the rest of the week€™s activities!
Dear Parents,
This is a reminder that I.C. School generally follows the Ft. Smith Public Schools with regard to inclement weather. However, I realize that many of you live in areas that may already be slippery or will be slippery soon. Also, I know many people are not comfortable driving in this weather. Feel free to come to I.C. and pick your student up any time. They will be afforded the opportunity to make up all missed assignments and will receive an excused absence.
My hope is to make it through the day long enough to count this as a full school day. I am not optimistic that this will happen, but would like to avoid making this day up if possible. Another email will be sent if school closes early and news will also be posted on our website, Edline, and the local news stations.
Again, if you are uncomfortable with the weather at this time, you are welcome to check your student out in order to get home and stay off the roads.
Congratulations to the winners of our 2011 Spelling and Geography Bee! We are proud of you both and wish you the best of luck in your next level of competition!
Our Kindergarten classes helped us kick off the Christmas holiday by creating Christmas floats and parading and caroling around the halls this morning. All the older students came out to cheer them on and sing along to Jingle Bells and Rudolh the Red-Nosed Reindeer! You can see all the floats tomorrow at our Annual Christmas Luncheon as the centerpieces for the tables. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Good afternoon! I am sure many of us are enjoying the first crisp weather of Fall. The beautiful colors in the trees and chilly weather really make it feel like Fall has arrived.
Reminders:
- Midterms will be ready tomorrow. You may check your child€™s midterm grades on Edline at www.edline.net after 3:00 p.m. If a report is sent home in their Tuesday folder, please sign and return the form to school.
- This week is the last chance to bring in items for the Thanksgiving baskets. A list of what your child should bring can be found on the website under Resources/Principal€™s monthly letter. Click here for list.
- Wednesday is School Spirit Day! Students should wear their class t-shirt to school with uniforms bottoms. If you cannot locate your child€™s class shirt, they may wear another shirt that is their class color. This is NOT an option if they have their class shirt.
- Spirit Night will be at Burger King on Rogers from 4-8 p.m. Skating will be at Crystal palace from 5:30-7:30 p.m. You may do one or both. This is a wonderful way for friends and families to get together outside of school and help raise money also. A portion of proceeds from both businesses will be given to I.C. School.
- Our students will have a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the Japanese culture on Thursday. The Office of International Relations at UAFS will be here in the morning with a presentation for grades 1-6.
- Thursday is our pastor, Fr. Greg Luyet€™s birthday! Please keep him in your prayers that day!
Friday, November 12, is the only day to pick up all pie orders! The truck will be parked in the lower parking lot of I.C. Church on 13th Street. You may pick up your pies anytime between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Thank you for your wonderful efforts in supporting our school! Bon Appetit!
Don't forget we have individual picture retakes Wednesday, Nov. 10! If your child is having a retake, they can wear regular clothes. We will begin first thing in the morning.
We hope everyone will join us Monday evening for our second PTO meeting at 6:30 p.m. We will discuss several events and activities before watching our Kindergarteners perform their annual All Saints program. The children will dress up to represent a saint and recite a short piece information about the saint. This adorable representation is an age old tradition that should not be missed. See you there!
If you are looking for uniforms for the cooler weather, there will also be a Used Uniform Sale 5:00 - 6:30. Come see the newly cleaned out and organized attic while getting those pants and sweatshirts!
The Monster€™s Ball
October 16th, 2010 6:00 pm - 12:00 am
Immaculate Conception€™s Galvin Parish Center
Tomorrow is the last day to bring in your pumpkins for the contest!
Don't forget your name and teacher.
Thank you all for coming to our Open House and affirming to your children the importance of their education! I love watching the children "light up" as they show and explain their wonderful efforts. Our Book Fair and Wishing Tree were very busy also. I.C. School is blessed with amazing families!
Happy October everyone! It is going to be a busy and fun-filled month!
TOMORROW, OCTOBER 8TH, IS THE LAST DAY TO TURN IN PIE ORDER FORMS AND MONEY! Thank you all very much for your hard work and determination in helping our school with this important event. All orders must be turned in by 5:30 Friday afternoon.
Tomorrow is also our first Treat Day for grades K-6! Children should bring up to $1 in a Ziploc style bag for treats in the afternoon. 6th grade students are in charge of bring the treats.
OPEN HOUSE AND BOOK FAIR WILL BE MONDAY, OCTOBER 11TH FROM 5:00-7:00 PM.
PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE AND BOOK FAIR WILL BE FROM 6:00-7:00 PM.
The children are always excited and eager to show their family their progress and projects. The school is alive with energy! Don€™t forget you are welcome to invite friends and family to join us as well. We welcome prospective families to witness the joy and enthusiasm of IC School! You talk about our great school all the time€¦show them what you mean!
We are having a pumpkin decorating contest next week for all grades- Preschool through 6th! Pumpkins can be decorated OR carved, so put on your thinking caps and let your imaginations soar! Don€™t forget to put your name on it. Winners will be chosen in each class and a free lunch delivered as a prize! CHANGE: PLEASE DO NOT BRING PUMPKINS UNTIL TUESDAY, OCT. 12TH. WE WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO DISPLAY THEM UNTIL AFTER OPEN HOUSE. Pumpkins may be brought in to the auditorium Tuesday(12th)-Friday(15th).
The Scrip kick off order will be this Monday at 10:00 am. You have to sign up for this service at www.shopwithscrip.com. IC School's organization # is BD57A25922663. You may place orders for the gift cards you choose on line or send in an order form that can be found here. If this will be your first time to order with Scrip, you may still order online, but please send a check to school Monday by 10:00 am. It is very easy to sign up and complete a Presto Pay account if you would like the amount to be drafted from your bank in the future.
Deals of the week are from iTunes and Starbucks and great news€¦YOU MAY NOW PURCHASE HARP€™S AND VISA CARDS!
Instructions and more information can be found on our website at this link http://www.icschoolfs.org/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=87&cntnt01origid=15&cntnt01returnid=139. If you have any questions or problems, please call Chris Millard or myself.
If you are going to buy it anyway, please buy it with a Scrip gift card to help our school!
As you know, if you plan to volunteer in any capacity with school or church activites and organizations, you must be Virtus trained. This includes Scout leaders, coaches, driving for field trips, volunteering in the school, church ministries and many more. So far you all have been committed to this program and wonderful about following up with your training by reading the monthly bulletins that are delivered by email. If a spouse, grandparent, or friend would like to help out at the school and has not participated in the mandatory training, please let them know of this upcoming class.
The next Virtus class has been scheduled for Sunday, October 17th from 1:30-4:30pm. It will be held in the Common Room of the St. Anne€™s building. If you plan to attend, please call/email Surennah Werley, Director of Religious Education, to register. Space is limited.
surennah@icchurch.comOffice: 479/783-7497
Cell: 479/719-0337
What a wonderful night full of energy and enthusiasm! Thank you for supporting IC by attending our first PTO meeting.
Big topics of the night were...
- Annual Fund
- Our school's new video
- Pie sales begin tomorrow
- $100 Club party will be Oct. 16th
- SCRIP!
- Traveling Prayer Cross
- Papal Blessing for our 80th anniversary
Thank you to Nightwing and Men's Club for their generous contributions to our tuition assistance fund and the school library!
If you would like to hear more about any of the topics discussed at the meeting last night, please call the school office for more details.
Don€™t forget the PTO meeting this Monday at 6:30 in the auditorium. Childcare will be available in the Preschool building (across the street at the corner of Lexington and B Streets). All children must be signed in and signed out of childcare. Please note that older children will be in the preschool after school/playroom watching a movie or playing games, and younger children will be in Mrs. Hindley€™s room. NO STUDENTS WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE PLAYGROUND OR UNSUPERVISED AT ANY TIME!
Students will be awarded a free dress for parents attending the meeting.
There will be a used uniform sale before the meeting beginning at 5:00 pm.
On another note, all school families are invited to celebrate Sr. Sarto€™s Golden Jubilee next Saturday, Sept. 18. Mass will be offered at 10:45 am followed by a reception and lunch in the parish center. IF YOU CAN ATTEND, PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE TO LET THEM KNOW HOW MANY WILL BE THERE! 783-7963
Have a wonderful weekend, I look forward to seeing everyone Monday night!
September 8, 2010 is Immaculate Conception School's 80th birthday! Thank you, all, for making I.C. the wonderful place it is and contributing to its excellence throughout the years!
I hope that everyone enjoys a wonderful weekend whatever your plans may be. Remember that we do not have school on Monday, Sept. 6. We are closed for the Labor Day holiday.
Another reminder is that we will begin selling ice cream after lunches on Tuesday, September 7th. Ice cream is 75¢ and will be sold on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
If you have not returned the Statement of Responsibility, which is the last page of our school€™s policy manual, please sign and return it next week. A copy can be found on the website www.icschoolfs.org.
Prayer of Blessing the Work of Our Hands
Blessed be the works of your hands, O Holy One.
Blessed be these hands that have touched life.
Blessed be these hands that have nurtured creativity.
Blessed be these hands that have held pain.
Blessed be these hands that have embraced with passion.
Blessed be these hands that have tended gardens.
Blessed be these hands that have closed in anger.
Blessed be these hands that have planted new seeds.
Blessed be these hands that have harvested ripe fields.
Blessed be these hands that have cleaned, washed, mopped, scrubbed.
Blessed be these hands that have become knotty with age.
Blessed be these hands that are wrinkled and scarred from doing justice.
Blessed be these hands that have reached out and been received.
Blessed be these hands that hold the promise of the future.
Blessed be the works of your hands, O Holy One.
I hope that all have experienced an enthusiastic and smooth beginning to our school year. The children have been so sweet and eager these last two weeks. I pray that our school family continues to grow and flourish!
The September letter and calendar will be out next week. Until then, I have a few items I want to share with you...
LifeTeen€™s Prime Rib dinner is Saturday night @ 6:00 pm. Grab your loved one and head out for date night and delicious food! Tickets are $25 and babysitting is available.
Don€™t forget the Father and Daughter dance this Sunday (August 29) from 6:00-8:00 in the Parish Center. ALL AGES ARE WELCOME! You can buy tickets at the door for $25. Come on, Dads, let€™s make a memory!
Individual school pictures will be taken next week: K-3 on Tuesday, Preschool on Wednesday, 4-6 on Thursday. No uniforms required on picture day.
€œ€¦what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.€ Micah 6:8
Each Lent, faith communities across the United States participate in Operation Rice Bowl as a way to foster solidarity with the poor around the world.
This year the children of Immaculate Conception School collected $1060 during our Operation Rice Bowl project!
Operation Rice Bowl, the Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services, facilitates development projects that improve people€™s ability to access food in communities around the world and in the United States. For 35 years, Operation Rice Bowl has called participants to pray with their families and faith communities; fast in solidarity with those who hunger; learn about our global community and the challenges of poverty around the world, and give sacrificial contributions to those in need. Operation Rice Bowl offers Catholics in the United States a way to connect with our brothers and sisters around the world. Thank you for your selflessness and generosity!
During Catholic Schools Week this year, students from our school brought in many items to be sent in care packages to soldiers in different branches of the military all over the world.
