This third week of Advent, let us remember that the good news of Jesus’ birth has the power to bring us great joy this Christmas season. Our joy isn’t dependent on what is going on in our life, in our world, or the people that we are with. It doesn’t depend on the gifts we give or the gifts we find under the tree. No earthly thing can ever give us complete joy. Our joy comes from you. That joy that flooded the hearts of the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, the hosts of heaven, and Mary and Joseph is the joy that still has the power to overwhelm our hearts with rejoicing.

Those who gathered around the new baby were blessed because they believed that you had fulfilled your promises. Mary and Joseph believed and were able to feel the joy of holding baby Jesus in their arms. The shepherds and wise men believed the angles and the signs and experienced the great gladness of worshipping their Messiah.

Those who knew him and recognized him were overjoyed at the coming of Jesus. They saw the prophesies fulfilled and their fear was replaced with happiness as they gazed on the face of the one who would be their Savior. They trusted in your promises and their hearts were filled with gladness as they watched your loving-kindness manifested in the face of a tiny baby in a lowly manger.

Father, you offer that same joy to us now if we know you and recognize Jesus as our Savior and Lord. You gave us a reason to celebrate when you gave us the unspeakable gift of Jesus Christ. You came to dwell among us. You went to Calvary’s cross for us. You overcame death and rose from the dead for us. You forgive our sin and give us eternal life when we believe in you.

Our joy doesn’t come from our jobs, our family, our relationships, our finances, or our success. Our joy doesn’t come from what we have on earth or who we are with. Our joy is a gift. It is the gift that you gave us that first Christmas in Jesus Christ. Our joy is encompassed in our Savior, King Jesus. Flood our heart with joy this Advent season as we reflect on the good news of Jesus’ birth.

We are in the middle of the Advent season, where we are preparing for the baby Jesus. It is a wonderful time as we lead up to Christmas - with lights, music, Christmas programs, parties, and good cheer. Over the next couple weeks there are many different church related activities in our parish.

Annual Christmas Appeal

We are initiating our first Annual Christmas Appeal to raise funds for the All Souls Scholarship Fund. As you know All Souls prepares young children for the future to become responsible citizens and active Christians in our community. Our students live productive lives due to the excellent education they receive from the school.

With that said we wish to elicit your financial support to assist families to send their children to the school. The cost of Catholic education is becoming prohibitive for many families, and if we are able to offer some financial support their children could receive a quality Catholic education.

Please read our Annual Report if you have not read it yet. It will give you a glimpse of all the wonderful things that happen at the school over the past twelve months.

I hope you will be able to contribute financially to this appeal. If not, your prayers will be most appreciated.

Christmas Program

Our school Christmas program will be on Wednesday, December 19th at 4:45pm. Students need to be at the Church at 4:30pm so that we can start at 4:45pm. The reason for the time change is due to many bookings for the Church during this busy Christmas season.

School Parish Masses

Our students who have been preparing for the School Family Masses recently have been doing a wonderful job with the readings. It is great to see our students being Confident Communicators. We look forward to seeing many more families at the 9am Mass at the beginning of each month.

Kindergarten Open House

We recently had our Kindergarten Open House, and we had over 30 parents turn up to visit the Kindergarten and to hear about the wonderful things that are occurring at the school. We are currently testing future kindergarteners and are securing enrollment at the same time. The procedures we are employing this year are different than in previous years. If you have a Kindergarten age child and have not signed up on the Admissions tab on the web site, I would encourage you to do so now. I do not wish you to miss out on a seat in the 2019-2020 class. Other grades also have vacancies and we are currently taking admissions for those grades.

Class Reconciliations

We are currently providing opportunities for our students for Reconciliation during this Advent season. It is a great opportunity for the students in reaching out to God's love during this time.

Donation to the Athletic Board

At the recent Sports Awards night I was able to announce a donation of $2000 for supplies for the upcoming basketball season. Our Athletic Board do a wonderful job in providing coaching for our students and preparing them for competitive games. Our basketball season is fast approaching.

Christmas Dismissal

On Thursday, December 20th we close at 12:20pm. There is no extended care after school that day.

Christmas Greetings

I wish to extend my Christmas blessing to each and everyone in our school community. May you have a safe and Holy Christmas and New Year. Classes will resume on Monday, January 7th.

God Bless,

Vincent Riener

Principal

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.” - Burton Hills

To me, the holidays are about family and tradition. Whether it is gathering around the family table at Thanksgiving or going to Mass together on Easter morning, the presence of family is all important – and no time more so than at Christmas. My nephews, both in their twenties, still help their auntie decorate her tree. They started helping when they were small and are now both much taller than the tree itself. It is a tradition that continues and warms my heart more than any physical gift ever could.

I hope that you have already established your own holiday traditions with your children. It is from these small things that lifelong memories are made. And, as we complete our last minute preparations for the holiday, let us remember that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus and the love He brought to the world.

I wish you all the most blessed and loving of holidays as your family gathers together. Merry Christmas!

All the best,

Miss J

This year’s show will be going to “The Movies”! We are looking for singers, dancers, musicians, and other performers ready to share their talents. Music and songs are to be chosen from a made-for-the big screen movie. We’re looking for acts from classic Hollywood musicals, Disney films, Westerns, adventure films, and many other varieties of movies. What if you don’t sing or dance? Maybe you do magic tricks or juggle. Please check in with Miss J if you want help with ideas. Start planning now!

The 2019 Talent Show will come to the stage on March 21st. Sign-ups will be starting immediately after Christmas break. Please be sure to check SchoolSpeak announcements and future newsletters for full information.

As you know, during the holiday season. Historically, we have collected toys in partnership with the South San Francisco Fire Department for the less fortunate children from the community. The children we help provide the gifts for range in age from 0-17 years of age.

Unwrapped donations are being accepted starting today and continuing though Friday, December 14th. Examples of gifts are educational toys, action figures, games, arts and craft kits, and puzzles. Toys and gifts must be new and in their original packaging (due to safety issues). Fire department representatives will then collect the toy on Monday, December 17th for distribution in our community.

We thank you, in advance, for your generosity.

Box Tops for Education was started by General Mills in California back in 1996, after the company decided they wanted to create a program to help support education and benefit America’s schools. All Souls has benefitted from this program over the years, receiving sports equipment, microscopes, and a variety of other educational items.

You can help by clipping the Box Tops off approved products you already have in your pantry. You don't need to clip the actual product UPC — just the Box Tops logo will do. From frozen foods to produce and household cleaning products, there are literally hundreds of opportunities to help, and each Box Top is worth 10 cents. Doesn't sound like a lot, but it adds up fast.

There are so many participating companies! Participating companies and product lines include General Mills, Green Giant, Totino's, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Ziploc, Hefty, Juicy Juice, Betty Crocker and many more. For a full list of eligible items check the Box Tops for Education website at https://www.boxtops4education.com/earn .

17- Staff Dev. Mtg. - 12:20 Dismissal - Athl. Board Hot Dog Sale

18- School Board Mtg. - 6:30pm - Annex Meeting Room

19- Christmas Program - 4:45pm - Church - Grades K - 8

20- 12:20pm Dismissal - No Extended Care After School

Dismissal for Christmas Vacation

12/21-1/4- Christmas Vacation

25- Christmas Day

1- New Year's Day

7- School Resumes

7- Early Dismissal - 2:30pm - Faculty Meeting

16- Athletic Board Meeting - 6:30pm

16- 8th Grade Graduation & Club Pictures

21- Martin Luther King Jr.Day - Holiday

22- School Board Mtg. - 6:30pm - Annex Meeting Room

25- Faculty Meeting - 12:20pm Dismissal - Athl. Board Hot Dog Sale

27- Catholic Schools Week Mass - 9am

followed by Open House & Science Fair

31- Junior High Dance - gr. 6-7-8

Email: info@ssfallsoulsschool.org
Website: www.ssfallsoulsschool.org
Location: 479 Miller Ave, South San Francisco, CA, United States
Phone: (650) 583 3562