Sally Teague (steague@stdominicmobile.org)
September, 2010Word of the Week
FORGIVENESS
FORGIVENESS IS GIVING UP RESENTMENT TOWARDS SOMEONE WHO HAS HURT YOU.Gospel Reading:LUKE 15:1-32
JESUS TELLS US THAT EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT AND GRACIOUSLY LOVED. NO ONE IS EXCLUDED, EVEN THOSE WHO DO NOT WANT TO BE FOUND.
JESUS TEACHES US THAT GOD NOT ONLY WILL OFFER US FORGIVENESS FOR OUR WRONGDOINGS, HE IS CONSTANTLY SEEKING US OUT WHEN WE STRAY.
I want to welcome all of our new students and families this year. We are so excited to have you join our school community. It is very important to me that all of our new students feel welcome and have an easy transition from their previous school.
FRIENDSHIP GROUPS
One of the ways we try to help with this transition is by having all new students participate in a friendship group. The purpose of this group is to help 1st – 8th grade students who are new, get to know some of the other classmates in a smaller setting. If your child is new this year, there should be a separate letter in today’s mail explaining the friendship group in more detail. Please let me know if you did not receive one.
ANTI-BULLYING
Once again, this year our school will be adopting an anti-bullying policy. Please review the handbook for important information regarding this policy. As we all know, this is a Catholic school and we are very serious about our students treating one another in a Christian manner with respect and kindness. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
SCHOOL WIDE CHARACTER BUILDING
This year St. Dominic will be the first school in the Archdiocese to start a unique program designed to encourage character building. “The Word of the Week” is intended to help the entire school focus on one critical character trait per week. The weekly character trait will be physically displayed in our classrooms, focused up during morning prayers, and used as teachable moments in daily classroom interactions with students.
What’s exciting and unique about this program is each character trait (“Word of the Week”) will be inspired by the upcoming Sunday Gospel. As a result, not only will we emphasize character building, but the program will help our students become more familiar with the Gospel; increasing appreciation and involvement in the Sunday Mass.
Ultimately, this program will help our kids focus on practical life building skills through the inspiration of Holy Scripture.
As part of becoming more environmentally friendly, SDS is trying to cut back on the amount of paper we use. For now on, my newsletters, as well as an up-date on the “Word of the Week” will be put up on my webpage. Please check the webpage for weekly updates. If you would like to continue receiving a hardcopy of my newsletter, please email me at steague@stdominicmobile.org and I will be happy to send one home.