Lord, in a season when every heart should be happy and light, many of us are struggling with the heaviness of life—burdens that steal the joy right out of our stockings. Tragedy arrives as innocent victims suffer, and an inner voice whispers, “Be afraid!” We need your peace, Jesus. We confess that our hearts are too often filled with wonder of a different kind: wondering when the bills will be paid, when the terror will stop, when rest will come. Will it ever? Is the message still true? In a world where worry, not peace, prevails, stir up that good news again.

This Advent, make it real in our hearts. Never have we needed Your joy and peace more than now. Thank You for the gift of Jesus, our Immanuel, the Word made flesh. We not only need Your peace and joy; Lord, we crave it. You’ve promised rest for the weary, victory for the battle-scarred, peace for the anxious, and acceptance for the broken hearted—not just at Advent, but every day of every year. Your name is still called “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” and “The Prince of Peace.” We know that peace on earth can only come when hearts find peace with You. You are still our Joy. You are still our Peace. You are no longer a babe in the manger. You are Lord of lords and King of kings. And we still celebrate You as Lord—this Christmas and always.

'Jerseys for Jackson Day' catches on as a way to honor youngest parade victim.

An effort to honor 8-year-old Jackson Sparks, who died from his injuries suffered when he was struck while marching in the Waukesha Christmas Parade, is gaining steam, with people around the country taking part.

If your child would like to wear a baseball jersey to school on Friday, December 3rd, in honor of Jackson, they are welcome to. Please remember it is a Mass day, so they should still wear dress pants or skirts.

This is a way for students to practice the virtue of prayerfulness in a way they can understand.

Below are a couple news stories related to Jerseys for Jackson.

Students are learning all about different countries and how they celebrate Jesus' birth.

Throughout Advent we will learn about some of these different traditions and customs.

Here are the countries for the 2nd week of Advent.

Below are some pictures of students joined together learning about the traditions.

ADVENT WEEK TWO

December 6 Netherlands

In the Netherlands, December 6, is a day to honor Saint Nicholas. They have a feast and put their wooden shoes out for Saint Nicholas to fill. For Christmas dinner, they eat salmon, other fish and eel!

December 7 Nigeria

Nigerians celebrate Christmas with pageants that retell the birth of Jesus and can last several hours! People also play drums to welcome Baby Jesus on Christmas Eve.

December 8 Australia

Christmas in Australia happens in the middle of summer, so they celebrate with food like cold chicken, fruit salad, and ice cream. People in Melbourne will gather on Christmas Eve for the Music Bowl, where thousands of people gather together to sing carols by candlelight.

December 9 Ukraine

Ukraine has two different calendars, so some Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25th, while others celebrate on January 7th. One custom is to put a candle in a loaf of bread on Christmas Eve to remind them that Jesus is the light of the world.

December 10 Iraq

Most people in Iraq are Muslims, but there are a few Christians. In 2008, Christmas was declared a holiday for the first time. Christmas Day services end with the Touch of Peace: the pastor blesses the people and touches one person, who touches another person until everyone has received the touch of peace.

On Wednesday, December 22nd, Students and staff of Holy Trinity will be participating in a Las Posadas. We are in need of a few volunteers from 8:30-10:00. If you are interested in volunteering please reach out to Mrs. Anderson at andersonj@htschool.net

Thank you!

SELF-CONTROL

Our December Virtue is Self-Control.

Meaning: Joyful mastery over one's passions and desires

Opposing Trait: Being excessive in words or actions, acting impulsively

Ways to Cultivate: Mastery of one's desires; practice restraint in regards to words and actions.

Looks like and Sound like: Listen to others while they speak; do not interrupt; control your reactions when you feel angry or frustrated; fast; restrain yourself from saying or doing everything you desire; practice restraint in words and actions; "I will raise my hand before I speak."

Prayer: Dear Jesus, Thank you for all the desires You have given me, because they remind me of the desire in my heart that only You can fill! Help me to control my tongue when I am supposed to be silent; my hands when I am supposed to keep them to myself; my eyes when I am supposed to be focused on a particular person or thing; and my ears to listen to only those things I am supposed to hear. Amen

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:6-7

Saint: St. Perpetua

Aspiration: Come Holy Spirit, increase in me the Gift of Fear of the Lord

The Knights of Columbus are again running their "Keep Christ in Christmas" Poster Contest. Youth between the ages of 5 and 14 are encouraged to enter an approximately 17" by 11" poster with that theme and the words "Keep Christ in Christmas" to the school office by December 13. All entrants will receive a participation award, and winners in each age category (5-7, 8-10, 11-14) will receive $25. It's a great way to help our children see the real "reason for the season".

Students might be bringing home the form to fill out to enter their poster. They may come home to work on their poster as well. If your child does not bring home the form and you would like them to create a poster, please reach out to the school office and we can get you the information and paper.

There is no school on Thursday, December 23rd-Sunday, January 2nd.

Have a very Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year!

As the weather gets colder, please remember appropriate coats, gloves, and hats. Once the snow hits we will also need boots and snow pants! We do try to get outside as much as possible, and we don't want any of our students to be cold. Please contact the school office if you need help with winter gear!

Home and School will be participating in the Kewaskum Christmas Parade. Families can walk along with the school community. If you would like to decorate a wagon like a Christmas movie and walk along, you are welcome to do so. If you have any questions, please reach out to Courtney Gruber at craeg05@gmail.com. We would love to have as many people as possible walking to promote Holy Trinity. Meet at the Kewaskum High School cafeteria before 4:30 on Sunday, December 5. The parade begins at 5.

SAVE THE DATE!!!!

Holy Trinity is planning their Christmas Concert for Monday, December 20th.

We will have an afternoon concert at 1:00 P.M. and an evening concert at 5:30 P.M.

The afternoon concert will not have our 3K and 4K students performing. They will perform at the evening concert at 5:30.

A special Thank you to Catholic Financial Life for their donation to Holy Trinity School for the School Library. We were able to purchase many new books for the library to get some new and interesting books for the students.

Holy Trinity Catholic School is looking for adults interested in substitute teaching. If you are interested, please contact the office. We have a Substitute Teacher Handbook with information regarding substitute teaching available along with an application that can be filled out. We would love to have you come and help out!

Thank you to those who participated in the Home and School Board Party! Great fun was had by all!

% Positive Out: 0.0%

% Out due to quarantine: 1.31%

Please continue to closely monitor your family for symptoms of COVID. We are still seeing illness.

The Holy Trinity families have been doing well in keeping kids home when ill. Please do not let up and notify us right away. We encourage you to have a negative COVID test or doctor's note when you return as there are many different illnesses occurring.

This has been our best mitigation yet! – Closely monitor, track, and isolate the situation so that it does not spread to others.

COVID Mitigation Protocols. Attached are the COVID protocols that were emailed home.

If you would like the advisory committee to discuss anything, please email at advisorycommittee@htschool.net

November 18th - Kevin Bednarek

November 19th - Becky Manthei

November 22nd - Deb Lijewski

November 23rd - Carol Leitheiser

November 24-26 - Thanksgiving Break

November 29th - Matt Krewald

November 30th -Stacy Hendricks

December 1st - Diane Lemke

CONGRATULATIONS!

December 2nd - 4K, 5K, 1st, 2nd Grade Field Trip to Cedarburg Performing Arts Center

December 7th - Report Cards Sent Home 1st-8th Grade

December 20th - Christmas Concert, 1PM and 5:30 PM

December 23rd- No School, Christmas Break Begins

Thank you for your support of Holy Trinity School and it's teachers and staff! In the newsletters, we will be including teacher wish list items. If you wish to purchase any of the items, please bring in to the office. Thank you!

We have had a lot to be thankful for as we continue to move forward this school year. We have dedicated teachers, staff, aides, and families that continue to partner with and share their faith in Jesus with our children. We truly believe, as St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 4, verses 5-6: "....one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

We live in a society that is accustomed to "instant things". Probably all of us have had instant coffee, instant oil changes, and after Halloween, instant Christmas with decorations already filling our stores. Our culture tends towards impatience where waiting seems like wasting time. The season of Advent imparts new meaning to our sense of waiting. It's an anticipatory waiting for the precious gift that God has for us.We are reminded that great things do happen in our lives as we wait, as in the case of Mother Mary and her cousin Elizabeth. Advent waiting is neither a bad thing nor a waste of time. Rather, it is an opportunity to wait and prepare ourselves.

During Advent we can focus on an "Inescapable God". No matter where we are in our life or what decisions we make, God is always present. This reminds me a little of the movie, Monsters, Inc. One of the characters in the movie was Roz, a tough-as-nails supervisor who would go around the scare factory telling her employees, "I'm always watching." This brought a sense of intimidation and fear to the employees to keep on the straight and narrow. Fortunately, God does not want to lead us to fear, but rather away from it. Yes, He is "always watching" and we should always strive to stay on the straight and narrow, but He isn't watching us to try and catch us making a mistake. He is watching as a protective and loving Father. And when we do sin, He is waiting for us to come to Him for help, guidance, and mercy. Not only is God everywhere, He also gives each of us our own guardian angel to help us on our journey. When I think of an "inescapable God", it bring me a sense of security, joy, love, and peace, not fear.

I want to wish you all a very blessed Advent season. May you be blessed with the spirit of the season, which is peace; the gladness of the season, which is hope; and the heart of the season, which is love.

Blessings,

Mrs. Longden

Email: holytrinityschool@htschool.net
Website: http://www.htschool.net
Location: 305 Main St Kewaskum, WI 53040
Phone: (262)626-2603