HFRCS Newsletter December 10, 2024

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This second week of Advent, we are busily preparing for the coming of Jesus. Yesterday and today, our students were shopping for their families at the Santa Secret Shop, sponsored by our Home and School. Our Advent service project of NEW book donations for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), through the Danica Strong Foundation, also continues. Please only send in NEW books for this collection.

Our hallways are filled with the sounds of Christmas music as students prepare for our Christmas Pageants! This Friday, December 13, our youngest students will share Christmas joy with their family and friends at two programs; the PK3 program will be presented at 9:30 AM in the Large Hall, and the PK4 and Kindergarten program will be presented at 10:00 AM in the church. Next week, our 8th grade will be telling the Christmas story, accompanied by carols sung by our students in grades K-7. The same program will be presented at two times: on Wednesday, December 18 at 9:30 AM and Thursday, December 19 at 1:00 PM. And our pageant would not be complete without a finale by our Kindergarten singing “Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus!” Please join us if your schedule permits. As a reminder, after both performances, students will be returning to their classrooms and will dismiss at regular time. Parents who wish for siblings to attend a Pageant must send in a note to inform their child’s teacher. Parents must pick up their child in the front office before the Pageant and return their child to the school after the Pageant. All requests should be made to the teacher by Thursday, December 12 for proper planning.

Next Friday, December 20, we will have a Prayer Service at church at 9:30 AM and all are welcome to attend. Student Council will be sponsoring a $1 Christmas dress-down day on this day. Students are permitted to wear Christmas sweaters or red and green festive Christmas attire. Since Friday, December 20, is the last day before the Christmas break, there will be no after-school CARES. Classes resume on Monday, January 6.

This Friday, K-8 students will be bringing home their report cards. Please review the report card with your child and sign the envelope and return it to school. On the envelope is a place where you can check if you need to conference with the teacher. Keep the report card at home for your records.

While the season of Advent is filled with joyful anticipation and preparation, and often much busyness and bustle, remember to quiet your heart every day to reflect on the reason for this joyous season.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

HFRCS Administrative Team

We are a family of FAITH!

Remember to go to Mass this weekend.

Our Christmas Pageants are scheduled for Friday, December 13th for PK3 (9:30 AM in the Large Hall), PK4 and K (10:00 AM in church), Grades K-8 on December 18th at 9:30 AM and December 19th at 1:00 PM in church. Parents who wish siblings to attend a Pageant must send in a note or email their child’s teacher and must pick up their child in the front office before the Pageant and return their child to the school after the Pageant. All requests should be made to the teacher by Thursday, December 12.

We are only accepting NEW BOOKS for the Advent Service Project. No used books please. It is recommended, if possible, for each student to donate a new book that would be appropriate for their grade level. In this way, we hope to have a wide variety of books to offer to CHOP. Perhaps your child would like to donate a new book of one of their favorite books as part of their participation in our book drive. Thank you in advance for your support of our Advent service project.

Please label all your child's belongings (coats, uniform sweaters, lunch boxes, water bottles, hats, gloves, etc.) We can help reunite lost items with their owners when items are properly labeled. There is a table with "Lost and Found" items in the Large Hall, by the trophy case. The few items that are on that table are those without labels.

See the calendar on the website for more information: https://hfrcs.org/calendar

If you receive any email asking you to verify your password or to view a new document via a link, please be cautious. If you are unsure about the email, contact the sender directly to verify if it is a valid email. If it is not, please do not click on any links and delete the email. If you attempted to access links, change your email password immediately. Please note that marking the email as spam will cause you not to receive any more emails from that sender/email address.

Please see the Family Handbook for details (pages 38-42). The maroon polo is not allowed to be worn for winter uniform.

Our annual Catholic Schools Week Open House is fast approaching! This is a great opportunity to come see what our students have been up to and chat with our staff! We are encouraging all current families to attend, and bring a friend who you think would be a great fit at HFRCS! Please fill out the registration form below so our team can plan accordingly. Hope to see you there!

https://forms.gle/pQFuKCQG52EKRegx8

Specific grades have State-mandated screenings (Physical for Kindergarten & 6th Grade and Dental for Kindergarten, 3rd Grade & 7th Grade). Refer to the school website for more information.

Also, signed Medical Treatment Order forms will also be needed if your child needs to take any medication during school hours.

• Dec 11: Last Day to RSVP to Gift Card Bingo, Otis Spunkmeyer order pick up from 6:00-7:00 PM in the Large Hall
• Dec 12: Last Day of Holly Jolly 50/50 sale
• Dec 13: Holly Jolly 50/50 Winner Announcement, Gift Card Bingo
• Dec 19: Chick-Fil-A Fundraiser

Father John R. Weber, Pastor

Father Manuel Flores, Parochial Vicar

View the Parish Weekly Bulletin.

Sunday Mass Schedule:

4:00 PM (Vigil Mass), 7:30 AM , 9:30 AM , 11:30 AM , 1:00 PM La Misa en Español

Weekday Daily Mass:

8:30 AM - Monday through Saturday

Holy Days: (subject to change)

5:00 PM (Vigil), 8:30 AM, Noon, & 7:00 PM

The Sacrament of Reconciliation:

Thursday: 6:45 PM - 7:30 PM, Saturdays: 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM

The Sacrament of Baptism:

1st and 3rd Saturdays, at 11:00 AM

Monsignor Michael McCormac, Pastor

Monsignor Michael Magee, Weekend Assistant

View the Parish Weekly Bulletin.

Mass Schedule:

• Monday-Saturday: 9:30 AM
• Saturday Vigil: 5:30 PM
• Sunday: 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM
• Holy Days: 6:30 AM, 12 Noon, 7:00 PM (except January 1st which follows a Sunday Mass schedule)

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saturday: 4:15-5:15 PM or by appointment

Daily Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Saint Joseph Chapel

Monday - Saturday: 8:00 AM–8:00 PM

Sunday: 12:30 PM–8:00 PM

Pot of Gold

The results of the drawing can be found here. The jackpot prize is $51,000!

Breakfast with Santa is on December 14th (Sat). The link to purchase tickets is: https://form.jotform.com/243085965400154

The link for Sign Up Genius to help at the event is: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/5080D4AADAC2BABFA7-stfrances

CHEER

Enrollment is still open -

When? Practice is Thursday nights (6:15-7:15). Season runs Dec-Feb.

How much? $50 for all kids

Where? Practice Thursday nights in the Holy Family school hall. Basketball games to cheer at to be determined

Who? Boys and girls - Grades K-6

How? Click the link https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/461461

BASKETBALL

Season starts tonight! Stop in to watch the kids play and cheer them on.

Want more information on CYO sports and activities? Join our CYO Facebook group!

Holy Family RCS CYO

You can contact CYO by emailing holyfamilyrcscyo@gmail.com

CONCESSIONS COORDINATOR

We have an opening for Holy Family CYO Concessions Coordinator. Primary responsibility is to raise funds through concession sales at St. Francis Cabrini gym during basketball games. Additional possibilities of concessions during other sports.

Home games at Carbini posted below. Highlighted dates include the number of games at the gym that day. The more games at the gym - the more appealing it is to have a concessions stand. The concessions coordinator would choose whatever dates they would like to have a concessions stand.

To Volunteer:

• Message Brian McGinley
• Email holyfamilyrcscyo@gmail.com

• Call/text Brian at 215-823-0434

Responsibilities:

• Schedule volunteers (Sign up Genius) for dates there will be a concessions stand.

• Purchase (reimbursed) items to be sold

• Open and close the stand on dates there will be concessions stand

• Account income and expenditures

Benefits:

• Helping CYO financially meet its goals

• Helping Holy Family students meet their volunteer hour requirements

• Allows parents to purchase snacks/drinks vs remembering to pack snacks/drinks

• A Board Position (voting rights)

• Child(ren) can play CYO sports for free