End of the Year Thank You

As 2018 comes to a close, it is with a huge heart that I acknowledge how filled with blessings we are at Sacred Heart School. It has been a year of growth and joy. This year we welcomed many new families, several from St. Mary’s on the Lake. Our families are high energy and supportive of the teachers and staff. They bring such optimism and love for Sacred Heart School and Catholic education. With our many partners, we have been able to create a school culture that yields strong academic and personal growth for our students. Many of our families are friends outside of school and have created bonds for their children that will last far into the future.

This year we have also been very blessed by our parish community and I am so grateful. We have had an outpouring financially, and prayerful outreach along with wonderful volunteers who are ready to support the school any way they can. We have had the opportunity to combine the school and church for many events and the outcome has been so fun.

Let’s continue to support each in 2019 as we grow and learn from each other.

Anne Atkin, principal

As we continue our favorite legends and traditions of Christmas.  This week we have:

Legend of the Donkey’s Cross 

Legend tells us that the donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday followed Him to Calvary. Appalled by the sight of Jesus on the cross, the donkey turned away but could not leave. It is said that the shadow of the cross fell upon the shoulders and back of the donkey. A cross marking found on many donkeys today remains a testimony of the love and devotion of a humble, little donkey.

Symbol of the Lion and the Lamb

The Bible tells us that when Jesus returns to Earth, all who were enemies will live together in Harmony, even the animals. The powerful lion will lie down with the gentle lamb, and love and peace will reign. Christian beliefs attribute the qualities of both the lion and the lamb to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Embodied within Christ are the lion’s majesty and might, as well as the lamb’s innocence and gentleness. Love the complete Christ, both lion and lamb, and rejoice that He is King!

Legend of the Christmas Bells

According to early legend, bells rang throughout the world announcing the birth of Christ. The ringing of bells during the joyous holiday season still adds delightful accompaniment to favorite carols and is a significant part of the Christmas celebration. High in their towers, suspended between heaven and earth, church bells have called the faithful to worship for centuries.

God Bless,

Anne Atkin, Principal

Dear Sacred Heart Families,

The students continue to prepare for Christmas by praying during advent for the poor and lost.  We remember to include people in the hospital and those who are in special need of prayers.  The students are thoughtful and careful to include all of the people who are close to them; who are struggling and need Mary’s intercession. We begin every school day this way and it truly is the best way to open our hearts for the coming of Jesus.

We had an assembly this week and talked about some of our Christmas legends and traditions.

Silent Night ~ This year commemorates the 200^th anniversary of “ Silent Night,” the world’s most popular Christmas carol. Written by Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber in 1818, the cherished hymn was first sung with guitar accompaniment on Christmas Eve in St. Nicholas Curch in Oberndorf, Austria. A chapel was later built on the site of this church. Bronner’s Silent Night Memorial Chapel in Frankenmuth, Michigan was built as an authorized replica of the chapel in 1992 in thankfulness to God by Bronner’s founders Wally and Irene Bronner.

Legend of the Poinsettia ~ Mexican legend tells of a boy who had no gift to put by the figure of the baby Jesus in church on Christmas Eve. On his way to church, he heard an angel tell him to pick some dried weeds for his gift. As he laid them beside the other gifts, the weeds turned into beautiful flowers. Dr. Joel Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, brought the plant to the United States where it was named poinsettia.

We finished the assemble by partaking in the American tradition of caroling. The students walked around the block and sang some of our favorite Christmas songs. Many of the students had never been caroling and thought it was funny to walk around and sign at the top of their lungs.

We have enjoyed spending time together this advent and we have opened our heart to the small joys of Christmas.

From all of us at Sacred Heart School, Merry Christmas and may God bless your families.

Anne Atkin, Principal

ADVENT SEASON

As we move through the advent season at Sacred Heart School, we have many special activities planned for our students and their families. This past week the 5th/6th grade orchestra students performed at the Anderson~Marry Funeral Home Open House. Under the direction of Mrs. Martinez, they made beautiful music. This is so amazing considering this is the first year for orchestra and the students have only had their violins or violas for 2 and a half months.

Next week, the 1st/2nd grade class will tour the Thompson Museum and on Tuesday we are taking an all-school field trip to the Hudson Cinema to watch the movie The Grinch with our families. On Friday, December 14th, the Emmaus Group will be hosting a special birthday celebration for Jesus. A special thank you to Linda Higgins for coming to the school to celebrate.  On Saturday, December 15th, the students will be performing Carol and the Bells at 3:00 in the Church Hall, followed by a cookie exchange. All are welcome to attend.  Our hope is that the students will learn that they are able to bring a lot of joy to our community during this season of preparing and waiting for Jesus.

May God bless you this advent season!

Anne Atkin, Principal

Christ is Coming- Advent for the Weary

Every year when the Christmas season starts to roll out, I think of the VeggieTales movie “The Toy That Saved Christmas.” In the beginning of the movie, the kids are home alone and a package is delivered. They tear into it and a metal circle with a red button on it is revealed. They all look at each other and then one of them says, “push it.” He pushes it and a Christmas tree, fully decorated pops up to the ceiling. They all look back at it in wonder with a collective “oooohhhh”…Instant Christmas! One of the veggie kids receives the brand new Buzzsaw Louie in the mail and when he pushes his nose, the Buzzsaw Louie toy says, “You need more toys.” Larry, the cucumber says, “now that is the true meaning of Christmas!” Buzzsaw Louie unexpectedly says, “No, it isn’t.” The kids are confused. “Christmas isn’t about whining and begging for toys,” continues Louie. “Well then, what is it about?” asks Larry. Louie doesn’t know but he sets out to find the true meaning of Christmas.

I love this movie because it pokes fun at us. Advent is about waiting and preparing. Waiting is really hard for kids. It is really hard for adults. We want to begin celebrating Christmas earlier and earlier. That is okay. We are all ready to enjoy the fun and celebration that is connected to Christmas. Many of us have to think about Christmas very early to have time to prepare: to make cookies, to assemble packages, to rehearse for the Christmas pageant, to buy presents, to coordinate the company Christmas party; the list is endless. We are so busy and we have high hopes for the enjoyment our hard work will bring the people we love during our beautiful celebration.

But Jesus was born in a manger; in a stable. No glitter. No bling. No sparkle lights. Simple. Pure. Joyful. The most perfect gift ever given. A savior.

This advent, let’s remember that the best gift we can give is us. The gift of kindness to everyone. The gift of dedication to the people who count on us, the gift of hard work and service to our people. Come Holy Spirit and light my path to Christmas. Let us remember that we are enough. That we are a gift from God and we are truly blessed by God’s gift of Jesus. Let Jesus be our light, our truth and our savior this advent. The rest will figure itself out. Let this be an advent for the weary. May we find peace and solace as we do Your work to bring love and joy to the best celebration the world will ever know. Let our hearts be calm and our spirit joyful.

God Bless,

Anne Atkin, Principal

If you would like to watch this Veggie Tales story, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifIIayHN1po.

Thank you for supporting Catholic Education in your community.

We are so blessed!  Sacred Heart School has the lowest tuition rate in the Diocese of Lansing, and one of the lowest in the state.  We would like to keep it that way. We want our message to the community to be that Catholic education can be for everyone who wants it and who wouldn’t want it?  Our small school community feels like a comfortable sanctuary for our families who are out navigating the world. It can be wild out there with busy schedules, heavy workload, invasive social media and just the pressure of raising a family.  Sacred Heart School is the calm in the storm.  Our students get the one-on-one attention in a loving, yet orderly setting.  It is truly a school where learning and virtue are sacred; where students are taught to persevere. There is something magical going on in our halls and the formula for confident students is working.

On Saturday, it was clear that the community has taken notice.  The “Be In our Heart Gala” brought overwhelming support for the school. The excitement and love for our little school was undeniable. From alumni, teachers, families, community members and supporters the message was clear: We love Sacred Heart School and believe in the power of Catholic education for the future of our country.

Thanks to all of you, we were able to raise $28,400 in profit at our gala.

God Bless,

Anne Atkin, Principal

GRATITUDE~ OUR LIGHT IN THE STORM

It is the time of year when we talk about gratitude. The days are getting shorter, and the darkness that comes so early in the evening tends to slow us down. It is the time of year when we reflect on how fast the days are going and how quickly we are coming to the end of another year. Where did the time go? The leaves have fallen off of the trees; the growth in the yard is done. We are gearing up for the frost and the wind and the cold. It is the perfect time to think, and with Thanksgiving approaching, to think about what we are thankful for. Most of us feel truly thankful for our family, our health, our home and maybe our job. But what about the times when being grateful is the last thing on our minds?

This week the students were challenged to think about times when things were not going their way. Times that seem a bit like a disaster or, at the very least, a disappointment. It seems that those are times when we need gratitude the most and we are the least grateful. Kallie, in the fifth grade, gave a great example. She told us that her family had adopted two dogs this past week and she had taken them for a walk in the woods. On the walk, she slipped and fell in the mud but she was grateful. Whatever for….we wondered. She was grateful that she was able to hang on to the leash. She knew the dogs would have run off and she might have lost them forever. Being muddy was a consequence that she accepted joyfully when faced with the thought of losing something precious.

It is easy to lose our joyful spirit when times are tough or stressful. I don’t know about you, but the season of gratitude is exactly what I need. My joyful spirit has been waning. Life can get hard, really hard; and the risk of failure can make it hard to see clearly. It is time to thank God for everything. To stop and open our eyes to the things that have become murky in our own struggles. We have so much to be thankful for. I pray that I can open my eyes and see everything in a new Divine light. Lately, I have been thankful to our church and school community. As a stranger to Hudson, Sacred Heart has been my rock and my home and I have learned an immeasurable amount from the people here. It has made all of the difference in my life and I am truly grateful.

God Bless,

Anne Atkin, Principal

Saint John Paul II

“There is no place for selfishness and no place for fear!

Do not be afraid, then, when love makes demands.

Do not be afraid when love requires sacrifice.”

October 22nd was the Feast day of Pope John Paul II.  As we take a look at his life, his courage and love are striking. Saint John Paul spoke and wrote about God’s love through challenges for much of his life. We are not out traveling to 139 countries to meet with world leaders or establishing a “World Youth Day” but we are entrusted with raising our children to be saintly adults.

Raising our children can be challenging. It is easy to give God’s love to our children when they are obedient. But what about the times when they do not meet our expectations? That is when we can grow closer to God by responding with a loving attitude. Love without conditions. John 15:12 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” This is really some of the best parenting advice ever. Unconditional love means we give a loving and respectful response even when our kids don’t deserve it. We have all been there. Your child is the one who throws tantrums. Your child is the one who is uncoachable. Your child is the one who forgets their homework. Your child is the one who can’t handle college. Your child is the one who learns lessons the hard way. Your child makes a really big mistake. This is when we must trust our God and love as He does. It is not what our child is failing to be; it is about what God is calling us, as parents to be. Loving without condition, is not natural. These disappointments make us angry and when we act out of anger the result does not enlighten us. It darkens the soul. Stop and remember how God loves. Pray. God is God and he is infinitely grander than we are. It is time to redirect our energy into prayer for our children. God has a plan. The path for our children will become more clear when we let God into our parenting. This does not mean we remove requirements and become permissive. We are not giving in; we are opening up to a new reality; a new path. Take time to think about what your child’s actions are really telling you about this beautiful child of God. Perhaps we are not looking with the correct lens. Maybe our perspective needs to change to be guided by the divine. Maybe raising our children should force us to grow up too.

God Bless,

Anne Atkin, Principal

“Yours is the gigantic task of overcoming all evil with good, always trying amidst the problems of life to place your trust in God, knowing that his grace supplies strength to human weakness. You must oppose every form of hatred with the invincible power of Christ’s love.”                   Saint John Paul II.

Be in Our Heart Gala

Sacred Heart School is hosting a gala celebration of our school on November 10th. We are presenting an event that brings our church and alumni community together.  This year, we will begin downstairs at the school.  Take a few minutes to tour the school, look at our Luxury Raffle & Silent Auction Items, enjoy wine & cheese, strolling music and games.  We will then head over to the church for hors d’oeuvres, open bar and dinner will begin at 6:30pm.  Following dinner, Christian comedian Tim McClendon will perform.

Following the performance, the auctioneer will begin auctioning our live auction items.   Tickets for the reverse raffle will be drawn during the evening and winners for the Money Raffle and Luxury Raffle will be pulled and announced at the end of the evening by Father Todd.

Each Event ticket is $100 and includes comedian, hors d’oeuvres, wine & cheese, elegant dinner with dessert, open bar, reverse raffle ticket (cash prize), luxury raffle ticket, paddle for the live auction and the opportunity to support SHS.

Thank you so much for all of your continued support. I hope we have put together an evening you will truly enjoy!!

You may purchase tickets by contacting the school office at 517-448-6405 or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/be-in-our-heart-gala-tickets-51301186229.

Click here for Sponsor and Ticket Opportunities

10 Reasons to Join Us

10. Open Bar ~ Try a specialty cocktail

9.  Father Todd will be at the microphone throughout the night

8.  Food that not only tastes delicious but will make you feel amazing!

7.  Support the school we love.

6.  Many, many chances to win. No one goes home empty handed

5.  Fun games- Ring Toss (wine bottles), Balloon Darts, Heads/Tails

4.  Chance to win cash

3.  Laugh your head off and forget about your troubles for a while.

2.  Every penny you donate supports the only Catholic school in 2 counties

1.  Feel how much we appreciate your support. We want to dazzle you!

Luxury Items for Raffle $5/ticket or 6 for $20

Lizzy Jane jewelry

Vera Wang Purses

Lottery treasure chest

Whiskey basket

Bose speaker

Cooler of specialty meats

Warrior’s Sword Crucifix Pendant 18K Gold

And more….

Thank you so much for all of your continued support. I hope we have put together an evening you will truly enjoy!!

BE IN OUR HEART GALA

Saturday, November 10th at 5:30

Sacred Heart School and Church Hall

Sacred Heart School is hosting a gala celebration of our school on November 10th. We have decided to present an event that brings our church and alumni community together.  This year, we will begin downstairs at the school with strolling musicians amid a wine & cheese and silent auction. Take a minute to tour the school and look at some of Luxury Raffle Items.  We will also offer hors d’oeuvres and an open bar over at the church.  Dinner will begin at 6:30 and then Christian comedian Tim McClendon will perform.  After the performance, ticket pulls from the reverse raffle will be displayed and the auctioneer will begin auctioning our live auction items. Winners for the Money Raffle and Luxury Raffle will be pulled at the end of the evening by Father Todd.

Get ready for the excitement.

Each ticket is $100 and includes comedian, hors d’oeuvres, wine & cheese, elegant dinner with dessert, open bar, reverse raffle ticket (cash prize), luxury raffle ticket, paddle for the live auction and the opportunity to support SHS. Tickets are available at SHS 448-6405 or aatkin@sacredhearthudson.org or thouser@sacredhearthudson.org.

Please consider donating a bottle of wine or pack of craft beer for our prize wall of wine. All donations can be dropped off at the school office.  If you cannot make the fundraiser, but would like to sponsor, please call the office for sponsorship opportunities!!

Thank you so much for all of your continued support. I hope we have put together an evening you will truly enjoy!!

God Bless,

Anne Atkin, Principal

For more info on our comedian, please visit https://www.timmcclendoncomedy.com.