Lord God, heavenly Father,
We ask you Son to open to us the mysteries of your kingdom, and lead us into heaven where we will see you face to face. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a blessed and peaceful Christmas and a wonderful New Year. I pray that you and your families have a safe vacation and look forward to seeing you all in 2008! May you be blessed with the peace and calmness of the season!
Sincerely,

Olivia Carrillo
Principal

Jog-A-Thon Winners
Congratulations to the 3rd graders, the class that brought in the greatest amount of money in grades K-5 for the Jog-A-Thon. Congratulations to the 7th graders who were the winners in grades 6-8! Both classes will have a pizza party in the new year.

Thanks also to the students who raised the most sponsorship money.
• Thor H, grade 3
• Phillip R, grade 2
• Celine C, grade 3

Important Notice for Parishioners
Year to date (January through November) contribution statements to each registered school family have been mailed. To be considered a parishioner and receive reduced tuition rate all donations must be received or postmarked by December 31st.
*The minimum contribution (January 1, 2007-December 31, 2007) is $500.00

Christmas Program
Our Christmas Program is this Thursday, 12/20 at 7 p.m. in the church. Students should be in their classrooms by 6:30 p.m. Please join us in the auditorium for refreshments following the show. We look forward to seeing you there!

Volunteers Needed—Earn Participation Hours!
Volunteers are needed to help set-up and clean-up for the Christmas Program on December 20. Set-up will begin at 6 p.m. and clean-up will start at the conclusion of the refreshments in the auditorium. If you are able to help set-up please meet in the auditorium at 6 p.m. on December 20. Feel free to call Maribeth Spensiero at 818-551-1121 with any questions.

Uniform Policy
In January you will receive a copy of the uniform policy with a few updates and clarifications (see Coffee with the Principal notes).

Boys’ A Basketball Tournament
The Boys’ A Basketball Team, under the direction of coach Louie Fuentes, will participate in a CYO sanctioned tournament hosted by St. Jerome School. They will play on January 3rd and 5th. Good Luck Eagles!

Coffee With the Principal Notes
• See’s Fundraiser Update – We have raised close to $2862.00 to be used towards the athletic program
• Math In-Depth Progress
• Two weeks ago teachers received a copy of all math standards for grades K-8 and marked their “essential”/ “power” standards that will help them through the In-Depth Study process. These essential standards are concepts students must have mastered before moving on to the next grade level.
• On Friday, 12/14 at the faculty meeting, teachers reviewed the students’ ITBS scores to look for overall school strengths and areas for improvement, particularly in math. Teachers also looked at individual student scores and longitudinal growth patterns to help them as they plan their instruction. Further examination of the scores will follow in the new year.
• Nestle Partnership – Years ago Nestle Corporation had an emergency bungalow located in the school yard. They are interested in re-forming a partnership with Incarnation regarding Emergency Preparedness. PTO Board Member Phil LeFranc is working closely with them.
• Spring Book Fair – Mrs. Hihn had asked me about the possibility of having another book fair in the spring. Parents in attendance thought it was a good idea.
• Dress Code – Parents voiced their concerns about the inconsistency in the enforcement of the uniform dress code. Girls’ skirts lengths are rising, correct shoes and socks are not being worn, students wearing non-uniform sweaters/jackets, etc.
• The faculty reviewed the dress code/uniform guidelines. Parents will receive an update in January.
• A parent suggested having a mentoring/training program for all new teachers for the 2008-2009 school year for more consistency from grade to grade.

Lunch Yard Duty Volunteers Needed for 12/20!
Each year the faculty and staff have a Secret Santa ornament exchange during lunch from 12:00 – 12:30. In order for us to include all staff, we are in need of parent volunteers for lunch supervision. Please contact Mrs. Reiner if you are available for yard supervision on Thursday, December 20.

Catholic Education Foundation Tuition Assistance
CEF applications for tuition assistance for the 2008-2009 school year are now available in the office. This year all Catholic schools may submit as many applications that qualify!
All applications submitted to CEF MUST meet financial eligibility based on the 2008/09 CEF Income Guidelines. Principals must still verify family income w/ tax returns, W-2s etc. Principals verify and sign the 2nd page of student’s application.
The deadline to submit applications to CEF is Friday, March 14, 2008.

Looking Ahead

2007
• Wednesday, 12/19 – Prayer Service: Blessing of the Gifts for St. Columbkille
• Thursday, 12/20 – Christmas Program: 7:00 p.m. in church
• Friday, 12/21 – Noon dismissal; NO ASP – no supervision after 12:15. Thank you for picking up your child promptly so that the staff can attend the Christmas Lunch.

2008
• Monday, 1/7 – Classes resume
• Tuesday, 1/8 – All School Mass 8:30 a.m.; Epiphany Parties 2:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, 1/9 – Coffee with the Principal
• 1/14 – 1/18 – ACRE testing grades 5 and 8

Tomorrow is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. On this day in the year 1531, a poor peasant, Saint Juan Diego, was blessed with a vision of Mary. She asked him to tell the bishop of Mexico that she wanted a shrine built in that very place. As a sign, she left an image of herself on Saint Juan’s cloak. The image does not grow old or fade. It is kept in a beautiful shrine in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, where it is treated with great love and respect by the Mexican people. Because of this love, Our Lady of Guadalupe became the patroness of Mexico, and Pope John Paul II declared her to be patroness of all America. To celebrate this feast day there will be an all school Mass at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow, prepared by the 8th grade and kindergarten classes. Please join us if you are able to do so.

Each student is encouraged to share a gift with a fellow student at our sister school, St. Columbkille. Please wrap a gift and write “boy” or “girl” and the appropriate age on the tag. Gifts will be blessed on Wednesday, 12/19 at 7:50 a.m. and will then be delivered to St. Columbkille. Please make an effort to have your gifts in no later than Tuesday, 12/18. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

May your week be blessed with peace and calmness of the season!

Olivia Carrillo
Principal

Important Notice for Parishioners
Year to date (January through November) contribution statements to each registered school family were mailed last week. To be considered a parishioner and receive reduced tuition rate all donations must be received or postmarked by December 31st. The minimum contribution (January 1, 2007-December 31, 2007) is $500.00.

Christmas Program Time Change
Since weekday Masses begin at 5:30, the Christmas Program has been moved to 7:00 p.m. to allow enough time between the end of Mass and the beginning of the program. Students should be in their classrooms at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 12/20.
Many thanks to Mrs. Imelda Rodriguez, Mrs. Diana Girskis, Ms. Jennifer Rickert, Mrs. Edilia Cuevas, Mrs. Linda Campo, Mrs. Laura Medina, and Mrs. Anne Marie Smith for all of their hard work in preparing our students for the Christmas Program next week. We are looking forward to a wonderful show as we prepare for the Christmas season!

See’s Candy Sale
Thank you to all families who supporting our optional See’s Candy Fundraiser. Thanks also to Mrs. Dumansky and Mrs. Leon for organizing this sale. We raised $1,849.25 which will be used for our athletic program.

Santa Claus Is Coming to Inca!
Please see the enclosed flyer about Santa’s visit to Incarnation on Thursday, 12/13. Money raised from Santa pictures will be allocated to the computer lab’s budget.

Kids Fitness Challenge
Mark your calendars for the Kids Fitness Challenge which will be held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, January 26. Flyer enclosed.

Scrip
Remember to support Inca during the holiday season by purchasing scrip cards. Visit our website at www.incaglendale.org to view and print a copy of our “On Hand” and “Special Order” scrip order forms.

Congratulations: Rebecca G., grade 6, received third prize in the annual Glendale News Press Holiday Guide. Way to go, Rebecca!

Lunch Yard Duty Volunteers Needed for 12/20!
Please contact Mrs. Reiner if you are available for yard supervision on Thursday, December 20 (12:00 – 12:30)

Looking Ahead
• Tuesday, 12/11 – 7th Grade Parent Meeting 6 p.m. in Math Room
• Wednesday, 12/12 – All School Mass – Wear Dress Uniform
• Thursday, 12/13 – Coffee with the Principal 7:45 a.m./Santa Pictures/Christmas Program Dress Rehearsal
• Friday, 12/14 – Penance: Grades 3-5/Junior High Dance 6-10 p.m.
• Thursday, 12/20 – Christmas Program: 7:00 p.m. in church
• Friday, 12/21 – Noon dismissal; NO ASP – please have your child picked up at noon – no supervision after carpool.
• Monday, 1/7 – Classes resume

Our Monday morning prayer service began with the blessing and lighting of the Advent wreath. Father Paul asked the students to share a few key words on what Advent means. Students responded with the words “preparation” and “hope.” Advent is a wonderful time for turning to God to give thanks for our blessings. It is a time to open ourselves to new growth in the areas where we may still be lacking. With this in mind, let us use this time to reflect on how we can best prepare. As I mentioned last week, how can you make this time of waiting special and meaningful with your family?

Have a blessed week!

Olivia Carrillo
Principal

Picture Make-Ups and 8th Grade ID Cards
On Thursday, 12/6 Bronson Photography will be returning to take make-up pictures only for students who were absent on picture day. The 8th graders will also be photographed for their school IDs (cap and gown pictures will be at a later date). Students should come dressed in Mass uniform.

NED Show Yo-Yo Sales
The school collected $1,600 from yo-yo sales. The money collected from the yo-yo sales helped bring this assembly to Inca free! 10% of the sales will be given back to the school in the form of a gift certificate for the purchase of other NED items.

Got Scrip?
Looking to avoid the crowd at the mall? Do you know someone who is very difficult to shop for? How about staff appreciation gifts in your workplace? Visit our website at www.incaglendale.org to view and print a copy of our “On Hand” and “Special Order” scrip order forms. What a great way to do some of your holiday shopping and help meet your scrip obligation—all while helping our school earn profits!

Jog-A-Thon
We are trying to get a final total for our Jog-A-Thon fundraiser. If you have not already paid for the Jog-A-Thon, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you!

Rainy Day Carpool
Thank you for your cooperation with the trial run of the rainy day carpool last Friday. We are now in the process of evaluating this change. In speaking with the teachers, it seemed to go rather smoothly. I have spoken with some of you individually to receive some of your input. I will bring this up at the PTO Board meeting tonight (meeting for board members only) and at Coffee with the Principal next week. From the weather reports, it looks like we might be expecting more rain towards the end of the week. We will leave the rainy day carpool as it was last week until further notice.

No ASP Friday, December 21
Students will be dismissed at noon on Friday, 12/21. We will not have ASP on that day. Please plan accordingly.

Santa Clarita Ballet Company’s “Nutcracker”
Caitlin C., Inca 8th grader, will be performing in the Santa Clarita Ballet Company's "Nutcracker" shows on December 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th. She is one of the Chinese dancers and dances in the Snow Corps and the Flower Corps in this year's show. This is her second year as a member of the Company which is a semi-professional organization that performs at the Santa Clarita Center for Performing Arts at College of the Canyons. Caitlin has been in dance of all types, but mostly ballet since she was 2, so it is a real achievement to be selected to be a part of this Company. If anyone would like tickets to see the show, please call the box office number at 661-251-6844 for ticket availability. As the saying goes..break a leg, Caitlin!


Looking Ahead
• Wednesday, 12/5 – Fall “A” and “B” Sports Banquet 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, 12/6 – 3rd Grade Retreat
• Thursday, 12/6 – 8th grade pictures for IDs only (wear school uniform); make-up pictures
• Sunday, 12/9 – 2nd Grade School Sponsored Mass
• Wednesday, 12/12 – All School Mass
• Thursday, 12/13 – Coffee with the Principal

I hope all of you had a very blessed Thanksgiving. We thank you for your generous donations of food during our Thanksgiving Drive for St. Columbkille. I know the gifts are much appreciated. Last week we received a large envelope full of thank you cards from St. Columbkille students for the Halloween treat bags you helped fill. The Student Council will share these cards with the student body. Please know that your donations during this time of giving do help put smiles on children's faces!

Today students in grades K-8 experienced the NED Show (NEVER give up, ENCOURAGE others, DO your best) which encouraged them to believe that they are all champions. Ask your child(ren) to share the NED message with you!

As the Christmas carols play and the department store sales begin we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season. Let us remember that Advent, the time to prepare for the coming of the Lord, is only 5 days away! The mood of this season is one of spiritual preparation that increases in joy with each day. In the classroom, students will focus on ways to prepare during this special time. How about creating the mood of anticipation at home? Perhaps you might consider displaying an Advent wreath, and you can make it family activity by making one together. Talk with your family about how you can fully celebrate Advent together.

Have a wonderful week!

Olivia Carrillo Principal

Jog-A-Thon Fundraiser
As of 11/20/07 we have collected $43,571.27 which will be used towards our upgrade/HVAC fund. Thanks for your support!

Looking Ahead
Wednesday, 11/28 - Optional See's Fundraiser Ends
Wednesday, 12/5 - Fall A & B Sports Banquet 6:30 p.m. .
Thursday, 12/6 - 3rd Grade to St. Joseph's Retreat Center
Sunday, 12/2 _ 1st Sunday of Advent
Sunday, 12/9 - 2nd Grade School Sponsored Mass

Our Jog-A-Thon last Friday was filled with much energy and enthusiasm, and it was great to see the Inca community working together enjoying each other’s company! Many thanks to Robert Mahan (Jog-A-Thon Chair), the PTO Board, Mrs. Ann Marie Guinane, and all parent volunteers for making this a great day for all of us. Thanks also to our sponsors, donors, and our student runners who helped to make this event a fundraising success. We are one step closer to cool air!

It seems hard to believe that we are approaching the end of November. Conferences have begun and we are grateful that you are taking the time to meet with your child’s teacher(s). Now that the first trimester is over and you have received your child’s report card, you can sit with your child to identify and celebrate areas of strength. Together you can also find some areas for improvement and plan to focus on those specific areas in the second trimester. Teachers will also do their part by reflecting on their practices to ensure that they are doing all they can to best meet the needs of their students.

On your conference day you will receive your child’s ITBS test results from October. Remember that these tests are one indicator of student achievement. At Incarnation, we will use these results as we examine our curricular program. They help us identify our own areas of strength and growth. Each year the Archdiocese gives us a specific curricular area to examine and this year we will focus particularly on math. These scores will be used through the Math In-Depth Study process.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I have much to give thanks for, but I am especially grateful for all of the children that you send to us each day. You are all in my thoughts and prayers, and I wish you a safe and blessed Thanksgiving.

Olivia Carrillo
Principal

Incarnation School Awards Assembly
November 21, 2007
10:45 a.m.
School Auditorium
Parents are welcomed to join us!

Coffee with the Principal Notes
Once a month at 7:45 a.m. in the auditorium, parents gather with me to ask questions and discuss concerns about the school over coffee and snacks. I would like to share with you a few notes from the October and November meetings and invite parents who are available to join me for our upcoming Coffee with the Principal on Thursday, December 13.

• Accelerated Reader – Can students test above their grade level?
o Students will be able to test above their grade level if they have achieved at least 80% mastery on their Accelerated Reader tests at their own grade level. Parents with questions about Accelerated Reader are encouraged to speak with Mrs. Hihn, school librarian.

• First in Math (FIM) vs. Accelerated Math (AM) – Many parents have expressed that they prefer the Accelerated Math program over the new First in Math program. Parents said that AM included more logic, was practical, and gave the parents and students a clear picture of the child’s progress. With FIM some parents find that there is no motivation, and in playing the games there can be a lot of guesswork.
o The faculty decided to try FIM for this school year since it was a paperless standards-based program. We will continue to use FIM for the 2007-2008 school year, but will review the 2 programs at the end of the school year (part of our Math In-Depth Study) to make a decision for 2008-2009.

• Bathroom/School Grounds Cleanliness
o Rita Guild (Parish Coordinator), Rick Thomas (Maintenance Coordinator), and I met with the maintenance company to bring these concerns to their attention. We hope that this meeting will resolve this concern.

• Trimester Tests – Some parents of younger students (grades 1 & 2) said that trimester exams were a bit stressful.
o One suggestion was to test grades 1 & 2 over a two-week period. Teachers will discuss this possibility.

• Physical Education – Can students have more P.E. time?
o The Archdiocese’s guideline for P.E. is 50 minutes per week. Each grade currently gets 60 minutes once per week. We can look at the possibility of having shorter P.E. periods twice per week for next school year

• Afternoon Carpool Safety - There were concerns about the safety of students walking to cars.
o All teachers of students in grades K-5 should be walking the students to their car doors. The teachers were reminded of this responsibility at our faculty meeting.
o Rainy Day carpool safety will be reevaluated should we encounter a rainy afternoon during the school year.

Music Announcement
Mr. Peter Carreiro, our music teacher, has left Incarnation to pursue other opportunities. We wish him well in his endeavors and thank him for his service.

SCRIP
The SCRIP program is a mandatory fundraiser which requires that each family contribute $200 by November 14, 2007. To increase participation and/or profits for the school we have included an option whereby families can receive some of the profits based on the total profits received from vendors. The amount of SCRIP a family would need to purchase depends on the SCRIP which is purchased. For example, Ralphs and Vons only return 1% of purchases, however, Bath & Body Works returns 13%. The amount of each vendor's percentage is listed beside their name on the SCRIP form.

An effortless way to also participate is to register your credit/debit card(s) with eSCRIP at www.escrip.com. You can register as well as look at the list of the participating vendors online.

Regarding the SCRIP calculations, they are handled by Mrs. DeVito who in turn will give the office a report at the end of May. Refunds will be processed before the end of the school year

Congratulations
Claire R., grade 8, was selected as one of the finalists in the search for the Historic Filipino Town’s Search for Youth Ambassadors based on academics, extra curricular activities, community service, talent, and an on-the spot interview. This is a year-long search and only one will be chosen as Youth Ambassador in August 2008. Claire is the youngest among the finalists and won best in talent. Her singing prompted a standing ovation from the judges. Congratulations, Claire!

Looking Ahead
• Monday, 11/19 – Wednesday, 1/21: Noon dismissal; Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Thursday, 11/22 – Friday, 11/23: No School – Thanksgiving Vacation
• Tuesday, 11/27 – The NED Show @ 1:30 (Grades K-8)

Family Messenger November 6, 2007

Last Wednesday, we celebrated Halloween with great fun and fashion! The day’s festivities offered a nice break in our routine. The students visited Student Council’s Haunted House, paraded around the yard in their costumes, and ended the day with their parties. We thank our room parents for all their work in helping to make this an enjoyable day for our students.

On Thursday we celebrated the Feast of All Saints with a special Mass led by the 3rd grade class. Each 3rd grader, dressed as a saint, processed into the church and told us a little about the saint they had been researching. Many thanks to Ms. Ceballos and the 3rd graders for their work.

The week ended with a pep rally in honor of Inca’s “A” Football Team that made the playoffs. They were undefeated all season and brought back a trophy as 2007 CYO League Champions. Congratulations to the team and to their coach, Mr. Sanchez!

As the Thanksgiving Holiday approaches, we remember to give thanks for our abundant blessings. We also remember those in need and answer our call to help others. Please see the enclosed information for our Thanksgiving Food Drive for St. Columbkille.

Now that our evenings will be longer, it might call for a change in routine. As the weather changes and we get ready to move into winter, time spent inside the house might be longer. It is a very good time to do more reading. It has been proven that reading is at the foundation of student success in all subject areas. I encourage you to read with your child/ren each day. It is a great way to spend time together!

Have a wonderful week!

Olivia Carrillo
Principal

Jog-A-Thon
The Jog-A-Thon is just around the corner! Remember that Donor Forms for each student are due in the office tomorrow, 11/7. Thanks for your support in making this fundraiser a successful event!

Parent Teacher Conferences
This year, parents will be able to sign up for their own Parent-Teacher Conferences either by visiting the school office or by calling the office to make an appointment. Priority sign-ups will be on Wednesday and Thursday (11/7 and 11/8) for parents who have more than 1 child enrolled at the school. All other parents can begin scheduling appointments beginning this Friday, 11/9 through Thursday, 11/15. Junior high parents are asked to sign up with their child’s homeroom teacher. If a conference with another teacher is needed, please contact that teacher to make arrangements.

Front Door Access
At last year’s Auction Dinner Dance, 3 families bid on and won the privilege to pick their children up from the front door. In the past month the number of students arriving and leaving with parents through the School Office has increased dramatically. Please review the following policy regarding the front door.

If you have office business that needs to be taken care of in the morning, please drop your child off through a.m. carpool first, park your car, and then go to the office. If you have afternoon office business to handle, please pick your child up from p.m. carpool first, park your car, and then go to the office with your child.

Parents/Guardians who walk from home or work and pick up their child/ren are asked to arrive no earlier than 2:30 and must sign in before proceeding to the back campus. Please sign out once you have picked up your child/ren.

A “Permission to Walk” form must be on file for all students who walk home after school even if they only walk home on occasion. Before walking home, each student with permission on file must sign out of the school office. Forms are available for pick up in the school office.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Surveillance Cameras
Incarnation is using closed circuit television cameras as a means of monitoring school property. The video surveillance enhances the safety of students and staff and protects school property against theft or vandalism. You will notice the new signs posted around the various entries to the campus.

SCRIP and Lunch Order Forms
SCRIP order forms will no longer be sent via the Home Messenger. The on-hand and special order SCRIP forms are available on our website at www.incaglendale.org. You can also find the current lunch order form online.

Looking Ahead
• This Week: Trimester Tests
• Sunday, 11/11: 7th Grade Sponsored Mass
• Monday, 11/12: No School – Veteran’s Day Observed

Question of the Week
Jesus showed that he loved Zacchaeus by having supper with him. How does Jesus show his love for you?

A Note About Recycling…Please continue to bring plastic bottles and cans from home to recycle at school. For safety reasons, please do not bring glass items. Thank you!

Family Messenger October 29, 2007

Many thanks to all of you who helped make our International Day for HCA a success! The students worked hard on their performances and research and did an excellent job. We are continuing to raise money for HCA. Thanks also to those who donated candy for the St. Columbkille treat bags. With your donations, members of the Student Council were able to make 264 generously filled bags! They were delivered last Thursday to lots of smiling faces.

Last Sunday Incarnation Church celebrated its 80th anniversary with a special mass and a procession to the new property on Central. Thank you to Mrs. Edilia Cuevas, Mrs. Gwen Rodela, Mrs. Maribeth Spensiero, Mrs. Maria Francia, and all other parents who helped with the decorations for the gym!


Many of you may have seen or heard that last Friday, a helicopter landed on our playground. A construction worker was injured nearby and had to be rushed to the hospital for immediate care. An ambulance brought him to Incarnation where he was then taken to the hospital via helicopter. We are glad to have been able to help Glendale Police and Fire Departments in their efforts, and I thank all parents who responded quickly and cooperatively to clear the way for them.

Have a Blessed Week!

Olivia Carrillo
Principal

Congratulations to…
• Archbishop Daniel N. DiNardo, Fiona R’s uncle. Archbishop DiNardo will be installed as a new cardinal in Rome this November!
• Celine C, grade 3, who received the AYSO “Sportsmanship Award” for exemplifying the spirit of the AYSO program!

Disaster Drill Update
This Friday, the faculty and students will run through an emergency drill in preparation for a larger-scale disaster drill involving parents which will be scheduled at a later date. The drill will begin at
8:30 a.m. Please make sure that the information on your Emergency Cards is current.

Swim Team News
On Sunday the Incarnation Swim Team participated in the St. Francis de La Salle Invitational Swim Meet. Congratulations to all the swimmers who improved their times and added points to our team total. The following students won individual awards:
Grade 1: Mila M, Sierra S; Grade 2: Elizabeth H, Javier S; Grade 3: Mateo M, Kenneth C; Grade 5: Christopher B, Sebastian M, Golddy S; Grade 6: Gabby C, Amanda P, Matthew R; Grade 8: Thomas B, Austin L, Kevin R, Austin S.

Glendale Unified School District’s Parent University
Please see enclosed flyer from GUSD for their 2007-2008 Parent University dates, locations, times, and topics. Parents of children in private schools are invited to attend.

See’s Fundraiser
Our optional See’s Candies Fund Raising Program begins today. Please look for information in your envelope. While this is optional, we encourage you to do some of your Christmas shopping through See’s and Incarnation. Orders are due by Wednesday, Nov. 28 and candy will be delivered in early December. Thanks for your participation!

Important Dates
• Wednesday, 10/31: Halloween Parade @ 1:30; Parties @ 2:15;
Please follow costume guidelines
• Thursday, 11/1: All Saints Day; 8:30 All School Mass – Wear Mass Uniform
• Friday, 11/2 – Decathlon Qualifying Test 12:30 in auditorium
• Monday, 11/5 – Friday, 11/9: Trimester Tests

Did you know? The “Rock the Planet” Assembly held on Oct. 23 was featured in the Oct. 24th issue of the Glendale News Press! Keep Recycling!

Family Messenger October 24, 2007

Students, teachers, and homeroom parents have been working hard to make International Day an exciting day filled with opportunities to learn about and appreciate the countries of Pakistan, Ethiopia and Papua New Guinea while raising money for the Holy Childhood Association. The celebration will begin at 12:30 with performances by various grade levels in the auditorium. Following the performances, students and parents are invited to the kindergarten yard to enjoy the food, crafts, games, and displays. To allow enough time for the festivities, lunch for all grades will be from 11:30 – 12:00. We hope to see many of you there!


Incarnation Church will be celebrating its 80th anniversary on Sunday, 10/28 with a mass at 12:00 followed by a procession to the new property on Central. Please see the enclosed flyer soliciting volunteers to help with decorations. Join us as the Incarnation Community gives thanks!

Please remember to be cautious while in the church/school parking lots. Students are being picked up from ASP and other after school activities, so please be aware of pedestrians as you park your vehicles in these lots. Thank you for keeping safety a top priority.

Have a Blessed Week!

Olivia Carrillo
Principal

High School Night
High School Night is this Thursday, 10/25 from 7-9 p.m. in the auditorium. Students in grades 6-8 grades and their families are invited to attend to obtain information about the different schools and their programs. Schools in attendance will be Alverno, Bellarmine-Jefferson, Bishop Alemany, Cathedral,
Don Bosco Technical Institute, Flintridge Sacred Heart, Holy Family, Immaculate Heart, Loyola, Mayfield, Notre Dame, Providence, Ramona Convent, Sacred Heart, San Gabriel Mission, St. Genevieve,
St. Francis, and Verbum Dei.

Halloween
Halloween is just around the corner! Please see enclosed flyer with costume guidelines.

International Day Dress Guidelines:
Kinder – 2nd – Wear Green and White
3rd – 5th - Wear Green, Yellow and Red
6th – 8th – Wear Red, Yellow and Black

Red T-Shirt Day
On Thursday, 10/25 students may wear red t-shirts with jeans for Red Ribbon Week. Please follow handbook guidelines. Shirts must be plain red (no logos, writing, pictures, etc.).

Parent/Student Handbook Amendment
Page 15 of the Parent/Student Handbook briefly describes how to request a minor adjustment. This pertains to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. Enclosed you will find the “Disability Discrimination Complaint and Review Process for Students and their Parents or Guardians.” Please add this to your handbook and retain for your records. The “Elementary School Student Non-Discrimination Policy” has also been included as an amendment to the handbook.

Visitors
ALL visitors to the school must report to the school office to sign in before proceeding to the campus and to sign out just before leaving the campus. In addition, please note that ALL visitors must wear a visitor’s badge which is available only in the office. These procedures are necessary to ensure our children are safe as well as to verify that only authorized visitors are on school grounds. Thank you for your cooperation!

Important Dates
• October 22 – 26 – Red Ribbon Week
• October 24 – International Day 12:30 p.m.
• October 25 – High School Night 7 – 9 p.m.
• October 26 – Kindergarten Field Trip – CANCELLED DUE TO FIRES
• October 31 – Halloween Parade and Parties

Family Messenger October 17, 2007

Welcome back, Father Paul! He has returned from vacation, and he joined us once again at our prayer service yesterday. We thank Father Tim and Monsignor Frilot for being present at our recent events.

I would also like to welcome Mr. Rick Thomas, new facilities manager for the church and school, as part of the Incarnation community. The students met and welcomed him yesterday.

Last week I wrote that sponsor forms for the Jog-A-Thon were included in the Home Messenger, however they were mistakenly left out. The forms are included in the Jog-A-Thon packet this week. Again, we ask you to consider becoming a sponsor for this year’s event, or to pass the information on to your business contacts. In your packet is the Donor Form for each child. Donor Forms are due back to the school office by November 7. If you have made arrangements to pay the $150 per student for the Jog-A-Thon through FACTS, please mark the space provided and return the form.

Congratulations to Gabby C, grade 6, who submitted the winning theme for this year’s Jog-A-Thon: “Cool Air is the Key…Come Run with Me!”

Students in grades 5-8 will work on designing a logo to go with the theme. Logo submissions are due on Thursday, 10/25.

The Environmental Defenders will be visiting our K-6 students next Tuesday in an assembly based on the 3 R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle. The assembly will be presented by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works and goes right along with the Student Council’s push towards recycling.


Have a Blessed Week!

Olivia Carrillo
Principal


Swim Team News
On Sunday, the Incarnation Swim Team participated in the St. Mel’s Invitational Swim Meet. Congratulations to all the swimmers who improved their times and added points to our team total. The following students won individual awards: Grade 1 - Valentin M, Mila M, Madison R, Sierra S; Grade 2 - Elizabeth H, Javier S; Grade 3 - Michael B, Mateo M; Grade 5 - Christopher B; Grade 6 - Gabby C, Amanda P; Grade 8 - Michelle B, Thomas B, Austin L, Mauricio M, Austin S.Swim Team members who did not attend Sunday’s Meet can pick up registration paperwork for the Oct. 28 Swim Meet in the main office. Paperwork is due by October 17.


International Day – October 24
As you already know, the school is focusing on 3 different countries that need our help this year. The teachers have been doing different age-appropriate activities in the classroom to teach the students about these countries. Our celebrations on this day will be fun for all the children, and they will have the opportunity to be exposed to the different countries as well as donate money for the cause. The Holy Childhood Association needs our help in raising money for these countries, therefore the children are asked to bring money to play games, do crafts, and buy food. Throughout the year we will be asking for money to help these countries. Please look for the Advent boxes coming soon. If you have any questions regarding this day and its purpose, please come and ask. Thank you for your support in a world that needs our help.
Diana Girskis, First Grade Teacher and Mission Moderator for HCA

Important Upcoming Dates
• October 17 – Coffee with the Principal 7:45 a.m.
• October 17 - 2nd Grade Field Trip to Science Center
• October 18 – Picture Day Grades K - 7: Remember to come in full dress uniform (with ties)
• October 19 – Karate begins for Grades 4th – 8th
• October 23 – Rock the Planet Assembly (Grades K-6)
• October 24 – International Day
• October 25 – High School Night 7 p.m.

Family Messenger October 9, 2007

One of our major fundraisers of the year is the annual Jog-A-Thon which will be held on Friday, November 16, 2007. This year’s fundraising efforts will again be dedicated to the upgrading of our electrical wiring and the installation of air conditioning throughout our buildings. This is a huge project and we need your help!

Enclosed in this week’s Home Messenger are forms for business sponsors. We ask you to consider becoming a sponsor for this year’s event, or to pass the information on to your business contacts. Also included is the Donor Form for each child. Donor Forms are due back to the school office by November 7. If you have made arrangements to pay the $150 per student for the Jog-A-Thon through FACTS, please mark the space provided and return the form.

We are also in the process of selecting a theme for this year’s event. We have asked students in grades 5-8 to submit their thoughts for a theme, keeping the electrical project in mind. The deadline to submit a theme is this Friday, October 12. Once the theme has been selected, we will begin the logo design contest. The theme and logo will be printed on the Jog-A-Thon t-shirts.

The Student Council has done a remarkable job organizing and planning events for the coming year. I am impressed with their ideas, especially their commitment to the environment and to serving others. Please see the enclosed flyer about the Halloween project for the students at St. Columbkille, an inner city school always appreciative of our support.

May you be blessed in many ways!
Olivia Carrillo
Principal

Important Upcoming Dates
• October 10 – ITBS Testing Ends
• October 10 – 5th Grade Bake Sale
• October 14 – School Sponsored Mass (6th grade)
• October 16 – 5th Grade Field Trip to Reagan Library
• October 17 – Coffee with the Principal 7:45 a.m.
• October 17 - 2nd Grade Field Trip to Science Center
• October 18 – Picture Day: Remember to come in full dress uniform (with ties)
• October 19 – Karate begins for Grades 4th – 8th

Question of the Week
Jesus teaches us that our faith is powerful and with it, we can do great things. We can forgive, love, and share with others. Which of these do you do most often?