Service Project: Kits of Caring
For a school-wide service project for Catholic Schools Week, IHM will be assembling “Kits of Caring” for distribution to residents at Oakcrest retirement community. With the pandemic and visitor restrictions, many residents are confined to their rooms with limited interactions with others. These “Kits of Caring” will spread cheer and provide residents with small activities for their day. In school, students will be making Valentine’s Day decorations and writing notes of caring. To fill the remainder of the kit, IHM will be collecting the following items for the residents. We are asking that all donations are turned into your child’s homeroom teacher by Friday, January 29, 2021. Thank you in advance for the donations listed below and for how we can shine the light of compassion for others to feel.
● Deck of playing cards
● Adult coloring books
● Colored pencils
● Small cans of play dough
● Large print crossword puzzle books, Sudoku books, word searches
● Large piece puzzles
Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31, 2021: We celebrate our Parish!
IHM students are invited to attend weekend Masses in their uniforms – students are encouraged to share with parishioners why IHM is a great place to learn about their faith and grow in their knowledge.
Monday, February 1, 2021: We celebrate our Community!
IHM students will begin the day with a prayer service celebrating the start of Catholic Schools Week 2021 and our school wide theme of “Peace.Love.IHM.” It’s National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day & we will enjoy a sweet treat.
All students, faculty and staff will receive a special uniform add-on during homeroom. For clothing, students can wear their IHM PE sweatpants along with tie-dye/brightly colored shirts/sweatshirts and socks.
We will write letters thanking our community first responders for their dedication to our health and well-being.
Tuesday, February 2, 2021: We celebrate our Students!
IHM students in grades 4- 8 will enjoy a “Couch Potato” out of uniform day – this includes sweatpants, sweatshirts and comfortable clothes. Students in PreK3 through grade 3 will enjoy a “Pajama Day” – no nightgowns, slippers or robes please.
Students will enjoy IHM’s Virtual Student Talent Show while snacking on a popcorn/pretzel treat. Students will play kid-friendly trivia games using Kahoot & write notes of appreciation to families for choosing to send them to IHM.
As we celebrate our students, there will be no homework on Tuesday night, and no tests/quizzes on Wednesday. There will be a special surprise waiting on student desks at morning arrival.
Wednesday, February 3, 2021: We celebrate our Nation! It’s National Catholic Schools Day of Giving. It’s National Global Play Day 2021.
IHM students will enjoy a full out of uniform day celebrating PLAY by dressing as their favorite video or board game character, or by showcasing their favorite sport to play. Please, no ripped jeans, makeup, accessories or clothing with inappropriate language. Thanks to the IHM Student Council for arranging for students to decorate their own face mask and for organizing COVID friendly games during National Global Play Day.
For the National Catholic Schools Day of Giving, IHM will be fundraising to replace our speaker/announcement system in the school building. Donations can be accepted at http://bit.ly/DayofGiving2021 – we have secured a donor that is willing to match donations up to $10,000. The cost of the speaker system is $30,000.
Students will receive blessings from Father Jeff and Deacon Chris for the Feast Day of St. Blaise.
Thursday, February 4, 2021: We celebrate Vocations!
IHM students can dress up as their favorite Saint or Patron Saint. To dress up as a Saint or Patron Saint, students have two options. First, students can create a costume that highlights or showcases a specific Saint. For example, a white dress/robe with blue ribbon could symbolize Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Second, students can create a costume that highlights or showcases a Patron Saint. For example, Saint Lawrence is the Patron Saint of Cooking & this could be highlighted by a student wearing a chef’s hat and apron. Students can bring props but no props related to violence or weapons are permitted. Students MUST know the name of their saint and something about him/her as they will be wearing a tag throughout the day that reads, “Ask me about Saint _______.” If a student chooses to not participate, he/she must wear their regular IHM uniform.
To honor Father Jeff, we will shower him with cards of appreciation – students and families can send in “gratitude” and “thank you” cards throughout the week as there will be collection baskets in homerooms. Virtual students can drop off cards to Miss Ellen at the main office lobby. Cards can be homemade or store-bought.
We will listen to presentations about religious life from Deacon Chris and Sister Frances Carol. IHM students will conclude vocations day with Saint Bingo or Jeopardy. There will be a video presentation of a “Parade of Saints” highlighting the saints that were featured by IHM students.
This is also the monthly collection day for casseroles for Our Daily Bread.
Friday, February 5, 2021: We celebrate our Teachers!
We will conclude CSW with the celebration of Mass at 9:00 am in the church followed by the announcement of the Teacher of the Year Award. There will be a 12:15 pm dismissal, but students will need to pack/bring lunch.
We will prepare Kits of Caring as a service project for residents at Oakcrest. IHM students will learn more about their teachers through some fun interactive games and enjoy a musical performance from Archbishop Curley High School. All students will wear their regular Friday uniform.
Monday, February 8, 2021: It’s been a “Souper” Catholic Schools Week and football season.
Students can wear their IHM sweatpants and a football shirt/jersey/sweatshirt with a donation of canned soup for the IHM Church Food Pantry. This item is the greatest need with the pantry slated to reopen in March 2021 for the first time since the pandemic began. There will be donation boxes at morning arrival to accept donations. Thank you in advance for your kindness.