Sr. Regina's Letter    

December 2008

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As I send my greetings to you at the beginning of December, the sights and sounds of the Christmas season are already present everywhere you go. Here at Immaculata, though, we are endeavoring to be in touch with the sure and peaceful anticipation of God-coming-among-us created by the readings, the prayers, and the songs of the Advent Season. The spirit of the secular world will undoubtedly begin to seep into our hallways (and your homes!). A determined effort to center our hearts and minds on the true meaning of this holy season will ensure we are not physically worn out by December 25. Let the holiness of this time of year fill your homes. Put an Advent Wreath on your dinner table and make the effort to have more meals together as a family. Be selective about the Christmas cards you send and put a Christmas manger under your tree. These difficult financial times provide an opportunity for you to eliminate some of the materialism that has marked past holiday traditions. The gifts we truly want cannot be bought. Get in touch with what is real and lasting. Let us re-learn how to give and to receive humbly and simply. Find some quiet time in your day to read scripture and pray. Be close to the Blessed Mother. Try to keep Advent - it is the best preparation for Christmas! 

There are many within the Immaculata family to whom I extend congratulations and/or gratitude. Do you know the Freshmen have elected their first class president and that a group of Juniors have lead this year’s first Revelations retreat? Did you know that our students prayed Mass with the Bishop and had breakfast with him in the cafeteria afterward? Campus Ministry has delivered furniture to the poor in Camden and worked on a local project for Habitat for Humanity. Do you know that the Spartan Marching Band won both State and National Championships this year? Have you heard that the Boys’ Soccer team had a very successful season? And…, as I write this, the football team is still involved in post-season play due to their winning record. I am so grateful to the parents, teachers, and coaches who have given untold hours of service to make these programs available for our students. These are the opportunities that make our mission statement a reality. Our students may take it all for granted so I thank you in their name. A time will come when they will look back, recognize the sacrifices you have made, appreciate you and what you have done – and follow your example! They will (and do) make you proud. 

My thanks to all those who worked with the Spartan Club in planning and attending the Holiday Extravaganza. The Advisory Council wishes to thank the parents, teachers, and staff who participated in the Focus Group discussion for Immaculata’s Strategic Plan. Your input is valuable. You will be hearing more as the plan begins to develop.

In closing, my prayer for you is that the knowledge of God’s ways and the experience of the peace and joy of His real presence among us will be with you and your families through this holy season and into the New Year! God bless!

The Juniors, Class of 2010, will receive their class rings on First Friday, December 5, at the 8:30 AM Mass
at Immaculate Conception Church. You are welcome to attend.

Mark the date: You are invited to attend an information night for parents on Wednesday, December 10, at 7pm.
There will be a review of the Random Drug Testing Policy, which will be implemented in the second semester and a
presentation on what parents need to know about internet safety and new laws, internet predators, and the welfare
of their children.

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Spartan Club Volunteer Form

Click here to download the Spartan Club Parent Participation Form.

Campus Ministry

Giving Tree


Campus Ministry will again be asking our community to support the needy of Somerset County through our Giving Tree. The students in every Theology class will be asked to take a leaf from the tree which will be up for the first week of Advent and bring in the suggested gift-please we do not need boxes or wrapping paper-JUST THE GIFT. As we all know, the needs of many have increased drastically this year-the help of those who have the means is even more important than ever now. Please remind your students about the tree-sometimes they forget!!! Thank you and may your Advent and Christmas be truly blessed. 

Advent Prayer:

Students will be invited to a lunchtime Advent prayer service every Thursday during Dec. They will have the opportunity to eat first hand then come to chapel during the last 15 minutes. This is a great way for all of us just to take time to reflect on our Advent journeys. Again, we ask that you remind your student to attend. 

SENIOR ANTIOCH

Antioch 36 will take place from Wed. Dec. 10th to Friday, Dec. 12th. The bus will leave IHS on Wed. Dec. 10th at 6:15 and return around 5:00p.m. on Friday. Antioch is a very unique experience-this one is for seniors only. Twelve fine young mean and women have been meeting for weeks in preparation for this. please keep this event in your prayers and if your Spartan is a senior, please encourage h/her to attend. It is a great Christmas gift!

Appalachia. 
Once again, a contingent from Immaculata will travel to West Virginia with gifts for the kids of Wayne County. Our Appalachian Club and several other supporters will help us get the requested toys etc. for this trip. Please pray for all involved. 

JUSTIECWORX:

It is that time again-JusticeworX registrations will be coming out very soon. This experience will take place for the last time at St. Joseph Seminary. Unfortunately, the seminary is closing and JusticeworX will be moving to a new location for the summer of 2009. 

Registration forms with a choice of weeks will be given to the students in the coming weeks. We ask that anyone who plans on going get the registration form and deposit back asap. Any questions, please call Mrs. Sanford at extension *220.

 
Parent Reminders

Immaculata Alumni

Immaculata has an electronic alumni newsletter. We need your email and mailing addresses. Please send ( along with your graduation year and maiden name, if appropriate) to Terry Lavin Kuboski'69 at tkuboski@immaculatahighschool.org We would also love you to send any mailing information on your siblings or friends. Our goal is to have all graduates on the database. Thanks. 

Lata Legacy: The IHM Sisters

On Saturday, April 18, 2009, Immaculata High School will host a Lata Legacy: The IHM Sisters, an event to honor the dedication and contributions of the IHM community over the past 47 years. It promises to be an evening of nostalgia, renewed friendships, and expressions of gratitude. We hope to see many of the IHM sisters, who graced our lives back at the school, along with scores of alumni, alumni parents, and current parents. It is a BIG SCHOOL REUNION. 

Proceeds will benefit the IHS Endowment Fund. For more information or to volunteer, contact Linda Larangeira Piscadlo'78 or Scott Frauenheim'03 at LataLegacy@gmail.com

Honeywell Instant Alert® for Schools

Parent User Interface

Website URL: https://instantalert.honeywell.com

Please take a moment to verify your information in the Honeywell Alert system. Be sure the system has the most recent email addresses, cell phone numbers and/or home phone numbers. Instructions can be found at the end of this newsletter. 

There are many types of alerts sent from Immaculata High School: High Importance, School Information, Transportation, Activities, and General. It is up to you to determine where each alert is to be sent – home phone, cell phone, email, etc. 

E-Newsletter

We encourage you to use the website as a substitute for monthly mail from the Spartan Club. If you would like, we will send you monthly reminders that new content is available. All we need to add you to the distribution list is your e-mail address. You can send that and any other inquiries you have about the website to Trish Miller, Spartan Club website coordinator, spartanclub@immaculatahighschool.org. 

Athletics
Words to Ponder: “NO MAN IS A FAILURE WHO IS ENJOYING LIFE.” – WILLIAM FEATHER

Winter Sports Hotlines: 908-722-0200 Head Athletic Trainer – Greg Watson (Ext. 207)

Girls Basketball – Coach Jen Hilgenberg (Ext. 225) Boys Basketball – Coach Mike Frauenheim (Ext. 228)Bowling – Coach Frank Mazzariello (Ext. 135) Swim Club – Coach Linda Fries (Ext. 131)Cheerleading (basketball & competition) – Coach Stacy Kline (Ext. 232)Please direct all calls to the above coaches with questions concerning these sports.

Football/Cheerleading Awards Banquet –Please mark your calendars for Monday, December 15th. Details about the football & cheerleading banquet will be mailed to you.

Boys & Girls Basketball, Bowling,Competition Cheerleading, and Swim Club Schedules are available on the athletic office website. Please check the website frequently as game dates, times, and sometimes site locations, may change at a moment’s notice. Log on to www.IHSathletics.com, click on OFFICIAL SPARTAN ATHLETIC SCHEDULE and this will take you to highschoolsports.net. By using the website’s pull down menus, you can now select schedules for any sport and any team as well as schedules from other schools! 

Volunteers for Home Basketball Games - Volunteers are urgently needed at games for selling tickets, collecting tickets, selling 50/50 tickets and security. Please call Jack Rice at 732-302-1612 with your firm commitment. Also needed are experienced clock operators for the varsity games. Preliminary home game schedules for boys and girls basketball are available through the athletic website to help you with your scheduling.

Printed Directions to Opponent’s Athletic Events are available on the left wall as you enter the school’s main lobby doors as well as on our web-site: www.IHSathletics.com. Please remember that due to the volume of calls into the athletic office from Athletic Directors, Coaches, and Officials, we cannot fax directions or give directions over the phone. For daily athletic events please call 908-722-0200 Ext. 138 

Homecoming and Senior Cheer/Football Night Pictures are now online for your review and purchase! The athletic website (www.IHSathletics.com) provides a convenient link to Normandy Studio for you! Once you are on their website, you may have to click "yes" to agree with 'their terms' and Homecoming and Senior Night photos will appear. Check out the other Immaculata galleries also – Meet the Teams Night, Soccer games and Band performance photographs are also available!!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, to the many people who generously gave so much of their time and talent to help us get through the fall sports season. We are deeply grateful to all of you, and will keep you and your families in our daily prayers. 

                                 The Athletic Office wishes everyone a peaceful and blessed Christmas.



SPARTAN BLUE CARD: The Immaculata football team still has several Spartan Blue Cards available for sale. The card entitles a cardholder to discounts at various restaurants for a full year. The card can be used for as many times as you wish to go to any of the participating restaurants: Burger King (Somerville & Flemington), Green Knoll Grille, Mannion’s Pub, Luna Rossa Ristorante, Houlihans, Fuddruckers, West Brook Inn, Red Tower III, Alfonso’s in Somerville, and, new this year – Café Picasso (15%!) and Tommy’s Deli! 
The cost is $10 per card. 

Please fill out the form below and return it to Mr. Frauenheim’s attention at Immaculata.
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SPARTAN BLUE CARD:

Name __________________________________ Number of Cards (@ $10 each) ____ Total $ Enclosed_________
Street Address ______________________________________ City/Zip_____________________________________ 
I have a student at I.H.S.: Name_____________________________ Grade ______ Homeroom section #_________
„ Please mail to above address (or) „ You may give the card(s) to my son/daughter 
Make Checks payable to: IMMACULATA U.G. Return in envelope marked: Athletic Office – Blue Card
The Blue Card would also make a great treat for friends, family!