A Student’s Experience Should Be Nothing Short of Inspiring

A great school must be ready to serve the families who are enrolled by having a clear mission. High standards, that include the latest technology and data assessment for each student, is not enough. Personal relationships that create an environment where students can learn and grow has to be the priority. Children should be joyful and comfortable in school. The classrooms should be a place of calm, purposeful teaching with the goal of making student stronger. It is clear, teachers are the most important part of any school. Students with teachers who care deeply about them, will carry a love of learning into adulthood. At Sacred Heart, our teachers are what make us special. Our teachers are able to see the potential in each student and nurture them through discipline, special attention and clear academic strategies.

SHS has a rich tradition of educating students who are confident in their abilities and their role as children of God. Each student has the right to be seen as unique and special with a learning plan that fits their needs. Students have the right to be prepared for the world. It is not good enough to have strong academic standards. A great school has high expectations for behavior and virtue in tandem with a passion for exploring and embracing the possibilities each student has for an enlightened future. SHS is rooted in diligent classroom work and we are determined to inspire our students to continue to seek greatness long after they have left our hallways. This year alone, our 5th and 6th graders will see the Toledo Symphony and a Broadway play, serve at a major fundraising event, learn hands-on life skills, visit Notre Dame University and Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, face their fears at camp, and have many opportunities to perform and public speak; all while acting as role models for the younger students. It is in this tradition that we are able to promise and live up to our mission that our students are balanced: confident of mind, academics and faith.

If you, or anyone you know, is interested in enrolling a child at Sacred Heart School, contact us at 517-448-6405 to schedule a tour. Let’s raise each child to their full potential.

Open Houses: Everyone is welcome

March 21st – Beach Party 5:00-7:00

Preschool, Developmental Kindergarten and Kindergarten

March 28th– Magic of Science 5:00-7:00

Kindergarten – 6th grade

God Bless,

Anne Atkin, Principal

JOIN THE 100 CLUB

The support of the 100 Club is a blessing. As you know, our parents make financial sacrifices to send their kids to a school that can put God into every part of the day. From the moment the doors open, the hallways and classrooms are filled with guidance from the Holy Spirit. It is evident from the joy on the student’s faces that they are guided to use their God given talents to meet challenges and live to their full potential.

Last year we were able to purchase all of the items on the teacher’s wish lists for their classrooms. We are so grateful for your generous support of the students and staff at Sacred Heart School.

This year the money received from the 100 Club will go toward the betterment of the gym. As you know, we have a large functional gym on the third floor of the school. The gym floor has been replaced in recent years and the students have a wonderful place for gym and indoor recess. With a fresh coat of paint and new tumbling pads, basketballs and jump ropes, we will have a fun, clean space for the students to run off extra energy.

To join the 100 Club, simply send your $100 donation to the Parish Office, marked 100 Club.  Your donation to the 100 Club can make all the difference to our students.

Thank you for your vision that Sacred Heart School will continue to inspire the next generation of faithful, lifelong learners.

May God Bless You,

Anne Atkin, principal

The Virtue of Hospitality and How It Open Our Hearts

When we think about hospitality, we think about opening our homes to friends and family. Maybe we host a book club or put a lot of effort into creating a home that is warm and welcoming. It is a lovely thing to be hospitable and to welcome people with kindness and affection. Last Friday, at the children’s Mass, Father Todd talked to the students about hospitality as a virtue. As a virtue hospitality means to open our hearts to others. It gives us the desire to be empathetic in the way listen and engage with the people we encounter throughout the day.

This works especially well when dealing with children. When we take a deep breath and understand that our children are far from perfect; that they are developing. Every mistake is the opportunity to learn valuable lessons. But it is really hard to learn when we are not fully understood. We all want someone to take the time to open their heart and listen with empathy.

Is there a hospitable way to resolve conflict? Can I take a minute to look at the situation from a different angle? What is going on with you? To ask and really listen with your heart. To not immediately interject your own words. Maybe, not put yourself into the conversation at all. If we are truly hospitable, we are open and attentive. We listen with the goal to understand fully where the other person’s mind is. To try to understand before we become hostile; the opposite of hospitality. Really listen and then pass on some good advice that will help children to make better decisions now that they know better.

By practicing hospitality as a virtue, we are gaining God’s grace. Everyone we meet is God’s child and has a soul that is divine. We know they have a unique way of looking at everything that is built from their experiences. Not everyone will think the way we do. I think sometimes people forget that. Hospitality gives each of us the chance to grow and learn in ways we would never think of on our own. With hearts and minds open, we can all earn our spot in Heaven.

God Bless,

Anne Atkin, Principal

A Catholic education is one of the best gifts parents can give their children.

Great News – The Witness to Hope Campaign was focused on raising money for tuition assistance and the money is now available for students in K-6th from the Diocese of Lansing.

Sacred Heart School also has local scholarships that can be used, in addition to Diocesan grants, making tuition very affordable.

Sacred Heart Families,

The Witness to Hope Campaign has made funding available to our families to help with cost of Catholic education! Additional local scholarship are also available, making Sacred Heart School affordable for all families. In order to receive scholarship of any kind you must fill out the FACTS application. We are very excited about the additional funding because Sacred Heart is dedicated to keeping our tuition low enough so that everyone can afford our private education. It is easy to apply and qualifying families will receive $750 per student in scholarship.

Families Must Apply by the March 1^st Deadline:

• Log into your FACTS account or set up a new FACTS account and complete the online form (under Grants and Aide tab). The cost is $30.00 and is payable to FACTS through their online application.
• You do not need to make your decision to attend to Sacred Heart at this time, but you do not want to miss the deadline and opportunity for financial assistance.
• Upload supporting documents through FACTS online, fax to 1-866-315-9264, or mail to: FACTS Grant and Aide Assessment P.O. Box 82524 Lincoln, NE 68501-2524

If you would like us to walk you through the scholarship process, call Tammy at 448-6405 for an appointment or on-line assistance.

God Bless,

Anne Atkin, principal

Why We Must Persevere

It is hard to walk through the halls of Sacred Heart School without thinking about the virtue of perseverance. The building is elegant and beautifully historic, reminiscent of times when the world was very different from today. It is easy to imagine the many children who have walked these halls; who have called Sacred Heart School their home. Memories have been made here for generations. Throughout the history our church families have supported our mission and have sacrificed to keep our Catholic school open This has been no easy feat. By my count, SHS has been on the verge of closing 7 times; and yet, we remain. This is a testament to our community. We are special; there is no doubt. What makes us so special. Perseverance! It is who we are at Sacred Heart School. We persevere! Perseverance is the will to see things through to end despite obstacles, discouragement, fear and opposition. I do not like being faced with any of those things. I can only assume the people who have kept the school running all of these years did not like them either. I know they dug deep and received the courage to do whatever it takes, because they believed in the value of Catholic Education.

As we move into enrollment season, it is time to get aggressive about how important SHS is to our families, our community and our future. We believe that learning and virtue are sacred. It is our motto and we take it very seriously. The teachers see the potential in every student. Not just because it is their job to do so, but because they see God in every child. We speak the language of virtue at Sacred Heart School and believe in this faith driven approach to child development. We discipline with the knowledge that the students are going to struggle but we are here to support and guide them with patience and clear virtuous words that encourage them to be strong, confident people. It is our mission: Our students are balanced: confident of mind, academics and Catholic faith.

If you or anyone you know is considering enrolling at Sacred Heart School, we can promise that their children will be given a wonderful gift of a strong, virtuous soul and the desire to meet challenges with courage so they can persevere. Call 517-448-6405 to set up a tour or visit sacredhearthudson.org for information.

New Scholarships from the Diocese of Lansing are now available for families. Witness to Hope has made new funding available for student in K-6th grade. We also have scholarship available through our school office.

God Bless,

Anne Atkin, Principal

Have I Told You How Much You Mean To Me Lately?

On Fridays during lunch, the school counselor, Marshall Hesslau chooses three students to be the recipients of positive affirmations. Without fail, each student chosen beams from ear to ear as they walk up to the large board where we will be writing positive words that apply to them. Hands go up across the lunchroom to say something nice about the chosen recipient. The kids tell the student how fast they are at recess or how smart they are in class. Hands go up to say they are nice or funny or the best brother ever. The kids just love it and the mood of the lunchroom is joyful and kind.

It is so simple. It so powerful. What do people think of me when they are thinking of my good qualities? We almost never get to hear it. And yet it means so much. A simple act of kindness or a pleasant thought that we actually tell the other person can truly alter a relationship. It can change it for the better and change a person to think about the good in themselves. It is contagious.

As we head into Catholic Schools Week at SHS, we are really pushing our positive thoughts and energy to the front of our brains. We want to reflect on the times when someone has been positive to us and use that energy to keep the affirmations moving forward. So we are challenging ourselves to think about the effort it takes to clear the sidewalks after a snow at the school. Or how the lunch lady is always on time and our food is always hot. Or how one of our classmates let us borrow a pencil. Or how my teacher is so patient and joyful and wants me to be great every day. Then, we want to think about how we can pass on the kindness. How can we make someone feel special with a small act of just noticing that they are special? During Catholic Schools Week we want to share our positive outlook for the people in our lives and we hope you will join us. Let’s open our hearts and let the goodness flow to our soul and our brain. We want to spring into action with positive actions and words. We want to make it a habit. I hope it is a habit our students will take with them for the rest of their lives. There is no better way to honor Jesus than to honor his people with an open loving heart. We cannot wait to share our positive affirmations with you.

God Bless,

Anne Atkin, Principal

Is the Devil Trying to Ruin My Life?

We have all been in that place where family get-togethers or work relations, even friendships take a turn for the awkward or uncomfortable. Wait. What did you just say? When we spend a lot of time with people or interact with them often, it is almost inevitable that we will, at some point, offend them. Even the sweetest and nicest people are still human and can say or do something stupid. Pope John Paul II “Stupidity is also a gift but one mustn’t misuse it.” What does he mean? I am really not sure of the context of this quote but I cannot help to think that when we say something stupid we are really not being empathetic conversationalists. Easy to do, especially if you talk a lot. Ugh…why did I say something so stupid and offensive? According to Webster’s, stupidity is a lack of intelligence or common sense.  Common sense is a practical view and approach to ourselves, to other people, and to all aspects of living. It is how we deal with issues and problems, how we manage our own thoughts, our beliefs, our attitudes and how we cope with other people. Common sense is what we learn as we live. It is how we change for the better as a result of all of those lessons. Apparently, we can always gain more common sense, no matter how old we are.

But someone we know and enjoy is deeply offended by our stupid actions. Now what? A dark cloud has been placed over a once lovely relationship. We would gladly turn back the clock and never have offended anyone. Lesson learned. But it is too late. Somehow we will have to move past the hurt. It feels a bit impossible. I am hurt that you reacted the way you did. You are hurt because you feel judged or offended by my words or actions. The feelings are very dark and we are left heavy hearted. How do we keep the devil out of this severed relationship and get back to our warm sense of community provided by the Holy Spirit? Grace. Divine grace.  Grace is given when we ask for it. It is our free will to put God into these situations. We have an obstacle that is so difficult that we cannot remove it without special Divine help. So we dig deep and decide that love of good and fear of evil is what will heal us. This leads to forgiveness of self and forgiveness of others. Continue to ask for God’s grace and talk to trusted people who know how hard it can be to truly forgive and let the Holy Spirit into our lives. The rest will work itself out. Free your heart from the pain inflicted by being just plain stupid and let the Divine grace given to us by Jesus’ example be the light out of the darkness. It is okay to make deeply personal mistakes. It happens to everyone. It is what we do with our weakness that strengthens us. Our weakness can make us holy and asking for grace will bring us back to the people we love. God’s grace and forgiveness can keep the devil out of our relationships and keep us growing together even when it is very hard.

God Bless,

Anne Atkin, principal

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