February 13, 2015
A Note from Susan
Dear Parents and Guardians,
For you long range planners, I have some 2015-2016 school year dates. Not all of the in-service and planning dates have been set by the Archdiocese yet, but here are the ones I know of. School will begin on Tuesday, September 8th. I know a few districts are starting before Labor Day, but we will enjoy that last weekend, and the usual lovely weather, and begin after the holiday. That means our last day of school will be June 17th.
Christmas vacation will begin on December 21st and we will return to school on January 4th. Finally, Spring Break will be March 21st through March 29th. Note Spring Break falls during Holy Week next year. I will publish the complete calendar as soon as it is finalized.
I trust you have a fun 4 day weekend planned. I have three, yes three, birthday parties and then the Mardi Gras celebration here at The Madeleine. It is always a great event and the price is right….FREE! Hope to see you Tuesday night.
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Susan
Five for Friday
The news you need really, really fast!
- Playground Update: Click here
- BoxTops Class Competition: Click here
- Hot Lunch Spotlight: Click here
- Mardi Gras Details - 2/17: Click here
- SAC meeting agenda - 2/19: Click here
Mass @ 6pm and Party @ 7pm
The party includes free food and fun for the kids in the Kids Zone.
School will start at 10:30am on Wednesday to accommodate the late night revelries. YDP will open at 9:30am.
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Playground Update
On January 21st, sections of the playground where the surface has deteriorated were cordoned off and closed based on recommendations by the School Advisory Council, Safety & Security Committee and Pastoral Council.
Since that time, many steps have been taken including coordination with the Archdiocese regarding an action plan for repairing the surface and meetings with surface experts who have provided us with recommendations for repairs. In addition, it is important to note that major repairs must be completed during warm/dry weather, and require at least one week without precipitation so that the base material is dry.
Knowing how much the students love to use the playground, we will continue to keep you updated as we work with the vendor to develop and implement a repair plan.
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Madeleine’s Box Top Class Competition
Have you brought in your boxtops yet?
During the month of February, the Parents Club is hosting a friendly competition to see which class can bring in the most BoxTops. The winning class will be treated to a donut party!
All you need to do is drop a Ziploc bag, full of BoxTops, marked with your grade in the white bin near the gym stairs. At the end of the month, the Parents Club will count and tally to determine the winning class.
Want an easy way to get your volunteer hours from home? Step up and volunteer to manage the Madeleine BoxTops Program. The time commitment is about one hour per week, and you can do it from home! Previous volunteers in this position have said that it is an easy job, but that you have to be detail oriented.
Contact Alyssa Pace, Parents Club President, at alyssapace@yahoo.com and let her know you are willing to count and sort labels.
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Hot Lunch Spotlight: Did you know???
Nora's kitchen is cranking out hot lunches and BIG smiles for our kids. Here are a few things you might not know…
Where is the food purchased?
Nora primarily shops at New Seasons, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Costco. She scours the sale ads in the newspaper weekly for sales and then hits the stores. Nora stands firm against ordering from wholesalers as she wants to control the quality of product coming into her kitchen. Her motto is…"If it's not good enough for my kids at home, then it's not good enough for my Madeleine kids!”
What about the meat?
Nora always buys kosher chicken. If she can find organic, hormone free chicken or beef on sale, she loads up! She loves Whole Foods hormone free ground beef sales (take note)! She makes the trip to Costco because they have the best quality all-white meat, hormone free chicken nuggets.
Housemade/Homemade…it's all delicious!
Nora makes all of the soups and sauces herself. The kids LOVE her chicken noodle soup. She says nothing warms her heart more than when the kids take the first bite, and a smile comes across their face.
Buying Fresh
You may notice on the menus a side dish may not be spelled out in detail. This is because Nora likes to wait to see what she can buy fresh that week. She has to plan the menu a month in advance due to software constraints, however she wants to keep it flexible if she can find a good organic or produce sale and work in the freshest items possible.
What is the most popular menu item?
BRUNCH FOR LUNCH! And did you know that along with waffles and sausage, Nora always adds an egg strada dish with fresh vegetables.
Menu Ideas??
If you have menu ideas that are a hit at your house…PLEASE send your idea to Nora at nbalsz@themadeleine.edu. She wants to hear what your kids love to eat. Cooking is her ministry, and she feels like this is the best way for her to reach the heart of all the kids at Madeleine.
We are SO LUCKY to have Nora in our Madeleine Family! Please stop by and say hello…it would make her day!
ORDERING FOR MARCH IS NOW OPEN FEB 12 - 24!
It couldn't be easier! Go to www.orderlunches.com and pick the lunches your child wants for the month of March.
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Tuition Assistance
If your family would like to apply for financial aid for the coming year, please note that applications are due by March 1 to be eligible for Archdiocesan aid. Applications are available online by clicking here.
Applications are processed by FACTS Tuition Aid, and allocations are determined by the number of people applying and the available pool of money. If you have any questions about this process, please do not hesitate to give Susan Steele a call.
Kindergarten Rocks!
Many thanks to Kindergarten for coming up with the idea to photograph the Mary statues and flowers in each class. And, thank you to Mrs. Schneider for taking the beautiful photos and assembling the collage of images.
Click here to see the wonderful collage.
School Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting
Click here to read the agenda
The next meeting of the Madeleine School Advisory Council (SAC) is scheduled for Thursday, February 19th at 7pm in the Library.
All are welcome to attend meetings; please notify the Chair (Lee Fiedler: lee.fiedler@yahoo.com) in advance if you would like time on the agenda.
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Next Youth Night!
February 22, 7-8:15pm, Teen room upstairs
Bring a friend and get ready for another night of fun, fellowship and treats! We will vote on the movie of choice for next youth night.
Save the Date!
March 1, 6:30-8:30, Teen room upstairs.
Movie night! Grab a friend, some warm blankets and bring $5 in cash for pizza and dessert. Movie choice will be determined from previous youth night. We will start the movie no later than 6:45pm, so don't be late! Please RSVP to Juliana at jweis@themadeleine.edu by Sunday, March 1st @ 11am if you want pizza.
Madeleine Baseball Caps For Sale
Available now in the office for only $20! First come, first served. Get them while they last.
An Evening to Remember with Fr. Mike
Celebrate the 103rd anniversary of the church with Fr. Mike in the rectory for an evening of wonderful wine, cheese and appetizers. A great way to warm up on a chilly evening with parish friends and school friends too…please join us!
Date: 2/21/2015 – 6pm - 8:30pm
Location: Rectory
Hosts: Fr. Mike, Dirk Fournier & Efrain Lopez
Price: $25 per person
Sign Up Online: www.themadeleine.edu/easelitems
Poker Night
Saturday, March 14th
Go “All In” for The Madeleine this year and sign up for Poker Night. $60 will get you your first 1000 chips for the No Limit Texas Hold’em Tournament. This is NOT the World Series of Poker and it will NOT be televised on ESPN…yet. For now, it’s just a friendly game of “winner-take all” poker with your Madeleine friends. We’ll even teach you the basics if you are a beginner. This poker party will include prizes, snacks and beer.
Date: Saturday, March 14
Time: 6pm – 10pm
Location: A and L Sports Pub, 5933 NE Glisan Street, Portland, OR 97213
Hosts: Jim Doherty, Todd Gaber, Kevin O’Connor, Tim O’Leary & Greg Rosebrook
Cost: $60
Sign Up Online: www.themadeleine.edu/easelitems
Counselor Corner
by Carolyn Ullman
Howard Gardner, a noted Harvard psychologist and educator, claimed that human intelligence was more than a score gleaned from administrating an intelligence (IQ) test. After much research, he theorized that there are multiple intelligences that dictate strengths in how children and adults process and understand information.
I will be highlighting each of the multiple intelligences in the next few Friday Footnotes.
Click here to read about bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.
Click here to read about interpersonal intelligence.
Click here to read about musical intelligence.
Click here to read about logical-mathematical intelligence.
Click here to read about verbal-linguistic intelligence.
St. Michael's Lunches
Making a difference, one lunch at a time
The eighth grade brought in 142 well packed lunches this week. We also were able to donate all the leftover noodles, cheese and dressing from last weekend’s Spaghetti Dinner. A big thank you to all who bring in food to donate to St. Michael’s; everything is always used, welcome and appreciated.
Updated Notice from the IRS
NOTE: The past weeks, we have posted information from the IRS regarding IP-PIN numbers required during filing of Federal Income Tax for anyone who has had a background check run through the Archdiocese in past years. Following is updated information. Thank you.
The Archdiocese has just learned that the IRS is delayed in issuing IP-PINs. Thus, you may not receive an IP-PIN during this tax season, even though you had a background check performed in connection with service for the Archdiocese, a parish or school. The IRS will continue to issue IP-PINs on a rolling basis. If you have received an IP-PIN, you must use it to file your taxes. If you have not received an IP-PIN, IRS advises that the best way to protect yourself is to file your taxes early. IRS apologizes for the delays and the confusion it has caused.
The FAQs posted in the Archdiocese’s website are being revised accordingly.
If you have questions, please contact the IRS Identity Protection Special Unit at 1-800-908-4490 or visit a Taxpayer Assistance Center. Please do not contact the Archdiocese or your parish or school. Neither the Archdiocese nor your parish or school has any further information on the issuance of IP-PINs.
Family Faith Sharing
February 15 ~ Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Mark 1:40-45
As part of the Action Plan stemming from the results of this year's Catholic Identity survey results, a weekly faith sharing article is now be included each week in Friday Footnotes.
In today’s Gospel we hear about a man who is suffering from such a terrible illness that people are afraid to touch him or even be close to him. The man begs Jesus to help him. Jesus feels sorry for the man -- and then touches him and heals him. The man is very happy and grateful and tells everyone what has happened to him.
Have you ever been left out or felt alone without friends? How did that make you feel? Did anybody show you kindness and compassion? Talk about what they did and how that made you feel. Have you ever tried to help a person who is lonely? Talk about what you did and how it made you feel.
We encourage parents to reflect on these questions at home with their children and family.
Keep up on the latest Madeleine News by Following @MadeleineOffice
Be one of the first to know what's going on around Madeleine! Just text ‘follow MadeleineOffice’ to 40404 to receive the tweets as text messages on your phone.
Growth Spurt Alert!
Receive $10 off when you spend $50
$25 off when you spend $100
$50 off when you spend $150
PLUS – Free shipping on orders over $50!
Promotion Code: PRESIDENT
PIN: 1790
Promotion runs through Monday, February 16th.
Don’t forget to use Madeleine’s Preferred School ID Number (900139106), which earns cash back for Madeleine!
Wilshire Riverside Little League
Registration now open
Open to players ages 5 - 13. Registration deadline for Minors, Majors and 50/70 is February 19th. Registration deadline for T-Ball, Single A and Double A is March 20.
Please visit www.WilshireRiversideLL.org to register and for more information. Click here to see the flyer with more details.
Information about the Beaumont Softball Little League for girls ages 7 - 14, can be found at www.BeaumontSoftball.org.
Registration Now Open for CYO Spring Sports
Track & Field, Lacrosse, and Baseball
Register at www.cyocamphoward.org.
Click here to see the flyer with more details.
Basketball Night at Central Catholic
Friday, February 20th
Boys Game @ 6pm; Girls Game @ 7:30pm
To receive free admission, wear your CYO basketball uniform! Please report to the sign-in table at the Gym Entrance 30 minutes prior to the start of the game. Between the games, meet the players and coaches and enjoy some ice cream in the Central Catholic cafeteria.
RSVP to Kathy Calhoun • 503.230.1056 • kcalhoun@centralcatholichigh.org
Click here to read the flyer with complete details.
Blast Off Into Reading:
2015 Reading Fair at University of Portland Chiles Center
February 22nd from 11am - 3pm
All children receive a free book with attendance.
This Week’s Checklist
Click here for a quick, fridge-friendly summary
of Madeleine School events coming up this week!
Download your copy of the bulletin at www.themadeleine.edu/bulletin
Special Valentine’s Day Mass
Saturday, February 14, 5:00 pm
All are invited to celebrate the love of God, our love for each other, and the vocation of marriage on St. Valentine’s Day at the 5:00 pm liturgy on Saturday, February 14. There will be special music at the liturgy, followed by champagne and chocolates. Bring your favorite Valentine to Mass!
Indifference in the world
Indifference is a selfish attitude —and it is a problem that we need to confront privately, prayerfully.
What does it mean to be indifferent? By definition, it is a lack of interest, concern or sympathy. Further, it is apathy, detachment?
Elie Wiesel is a former Auschwitz prisoner who was called a “messenger to mankind” by the Nobel Peace Prize committee.
He says “the opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”
Anton Chekhov, the famed Russian writer says, “Indifference is a paralysis of the soul, a premature death.”
Pope Francis warns us in his Lenten message of global indifference and invites us to overcome this feeling of distress and powerlessness causing us to withdraw into ourselves, thus “closing the door through which God comes into the world and the world comes to him.” He reminds us that each year during Lent we need to hear the voice of the prophets who cry out and trouble our conscience.
Let’s stop there—what troubles your conscience? Is it seeing people sleeping outdoors in the cold and wet Portland winter asking for anything? Do we have anything we can share? Is it knowing that there are people in our community who do not have enough to eat? Do we have anything we can share? Is your conscience troubled? What is the balm for this discomfort?
Pope Francis invites us to live this Lent as an opportunity for engaging in
a formation of the heart. “A merciful heart does not mean a weak heart. Anyone
who wishes to be merciful must have a strong and steadfast heart, closed to
the tempter but open to God.”
This Lent, let’s pray for a heart that is attentive, generous, not closed or
indifferent.
St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.
“Carbon Fast” for Lent
The Care for Creation Committee would like to promote the idea of a “Carbon
Fast for Lent” this year for Parishioners who may wish to make this a focus
of their Lenten season.
An example of recent action by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is this
letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy regarding the need reduce to carbon
emissions from power plants. It outlines the Catholic position on climate change:
http://bit.ly/1xJ5JNW.
Parishioners wishing to do a “Carbon Fast for Lent” can use this calendar to
guide their fast: http://bit.ly/1MgSBEL.
Thank you for Caring for Creation!
Congratulations for making it all the way to the end of Friday Footnotes!
Contributing to the Footnotes
If you have information to contribute to the Friday Footnotes, please e-mail the copy exactly as you would like it to appear in a Word document to: fridayfootnotes@themadeleine.edu. Deadline is Wednesday at 5pm, or Tuesday at 5pm if there is no school on Friday.