December 13, 2018 

Dear Parents,

While still in the season of Holy Advent, we are anticipating the beauty of Christmas this coming Sunday, Gaudete Sunday and the lighting of the rose-colored candle in the advent wreath. We will celebrate the nearness of Christmas also by blessing the baby Jesus from your nativity at all Masses and have a Christmas book as a gift for your family (while supplies last!). Following the 5pm Mass Sunday evening, we will light our outdoor parish Christmas tree in the courtyard with refreshments. Then join us in the Basilica, at 7pm, for a wonderful evening of "Lessons and Carols" that focus on the story of Christmas in word and song, featuring both our adult and children's choirs.

The joy and goodness of Christmas is rooted in the person of Jesus Christ and the power of His love, a power that breaks through even amidst the evil of war. During Christmas Eve 1914, many truces broke out along the western front. This letter from Private Cunningham, of the 5th Scottish Rifles reveals in more detail how such truces came about: "On Christmas Eve the firing practically ceased. I think both sides understood we were going to have a day off. Through the night we sang carols to one another, the German lines were only a hundred yards away, so we heard each other quite plainly. This went on all night. When dawn arrived we started putting our head above the parapet and waved to each other. On our left was a brewery occupied by the Germans and to our surprise we saw a German come out and hold his hand up, behind him were two rolling a barrel of beer. They came halfway across and signed to us to come for it. Three of us went out, shook hands with them, wished them a merry Christmas, and rolled the barrel to our own trenches amid the cheers of both British and Germans!  After that it was understood that peace was declared for a day. We both got out of our trenches and met in the middle of the field, wished each other seasons greetings. The Germans said: "A merry Grismas!" Some of them were quite good at English. We had a most interesting day. The Germans got permission for our officers to bury some of their dead which were lying near our lines." (The Scotsman, January 5, 1915).

May the nearness of Christ bring your family peace and joy during these last days of Advent.

In Jesus and Mary,

Father Hathaway

Please donate (click here) to the Student Council's St. Vincent de Paul project and help 12 families with children enjoy their Christmas this year!  Donations through Faith Direct, checks made payable to St. Mary School, and cash, will be accepted throughout next week. We need your support. Thank you for your generosity! 

NOTE: The school office will be closed Friday, December 14, 2018.

Our faculty will be on retreat.

Congratulations to our students who earned Principal's Award and Academic Honors for the first trimester marking period!  View the list here. 

Saint Monica, Saint Isaac Jogues, and Saint Rita of Cascia are the saints our students are studying this month as examples of how to live the virtue of patience. 

How are you living this virtue today?  We all know what it's like to wait for our turn in a line, a game, results from a test, for an expected phone call...for Christmas!  But, how often do we wait patiently, without complaining? Patience is listed as one of the 12 fruits, or perfections, that The Holy Spirit forms in us (p.1832, Catechism of the Catholic Church).  If this fruit is truly alive in us, we can control our emotions when something disagreeable happens and respond with calm instead of anger, dismay or irritation. In times of great suffering, such as a serious illness, or loss of home or job, the virtue of patience can be a tremendous witness to God Who always responds to our prayers: " I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me and heard my cry" (Psalm 40:1).

CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS - GRADES K-3

Wednesday, December 19

6:30 pm-7:45 pm

School Gym

• All students arrive at school 6:00 pm.

• Kindergarten and First Grade students go to the gym. 
• Second and Third Grade students go to the cafeteria.
• Due to the limited viewing space, we ask Kindergarten and First Grade families, without siblings in Second and Third Grades, to please exit the gym after the K-1 program finishes. Thank you for your cooperation to ensure that the Second and Third Grade Program begins on time.
• Please be mindful, when parking on the blacktop, not to block anyone in. Parking patrols will be helping direct parking traffic on the blacktop. 

We look forward to sharing this evening with you and ask attendance to be limited to families of our students in K-3 so that we can accommodate all families for this festive program.

Winter Registration now open!

The Basilica School of St. Mary

Chess and Coding Clubs

Chess Club is taught by experienced Silver Knights instructors using a curriculum developed by National Masters. Each weekly session is a mix of learning and play. Playing chess is a great way to develop a child's critical thinking skills, sportsmanship, and patience — all while having fun!

• All grades and skill levels welcome. All equipment provided.
• Dates: Club meets every Friday that school is in session starting on 1/14 and ending on 3/25. Club will not meet on 1/21, 2/18 and 3/11
• A make-up day, if necessary, will be on 4/1
• Time:   3:15—4:15 PM
• Tuition:  $132 for 8 weeks

In Coding Club, learn to code your own games and animations using Scratch. MIT developed Scratch 10 years ago to give kids a fun way to learn programming skills and computational thinking. Each multi-week session includes all new projects that all kids will enjoy, from beginners to advanced coders. What will you create?

• Grades 2 & up —- only 18 spots available!   All computers and equipment provided. 
• Dates: Club meets every Friday that school is in session starting on 1/14 and ending on 3/25. Club will not meet on 1/21, 2/18 and 3/11
• A make-up day, if necessary, will be on 4/1
• Time:   3:15—4:15 PM 
• Tuition:  $198 for 8 weeks

To Register, Visit: www.skenrichment.com

To request scholarships or financial aid, please visit our website.  

LOOKING AHEAD

BASILICA EVENTS

All Middle School Students

Are Invited to

F3: Faith, Fun, & Friends – Advent Party!

When?  Friday, December 14,7:00-8:30 PM
Where?  In the school gym
What's happening? We will have free time, music, snacks, and games!
Registration? No registration is required to attend this program. However, all families are encouraged to register for all youth activities for the year here.
Drop-off & Pick-up: Attendees should be dropped off no earlier than 6:50PM and no later than 7:10PM, AND MUST be signed-in and signed-out! 

For questions regarding volunteering or about the program, please contact the Assistant Youth Director, Mariane Leite at mleite@stmaryoldtown.org or 703-836-4100.

PRAYERS

• For the repose of the soul of Eugene Carroll Wajdowicz, grandfather of Douglas and Garrett O'Neil, and father to Jean-Marie O'Neil
• For the repose of the soul of Lawrence Potter, great grandfather to Ryan, Kiley, and Aidan
• For Baby Otto Van Heest, that he receives The Lord's healing for strength and growth
• For the victims of the fires in California, may they find mercy and hope in Your Light
  
• For Pope Francis and all Church leaders, that they will be witnesses of justice and repentance as we reach out to those who have been hurt
• That we will be led by the Holy Spirit to grow in the virtue of patience
• For all of our dearly departed
• For our service men and women, at home and abroad
• For the lonely, the sick, and the poor
• For all souls in Purgatory

Send requests for prayers to jcantwell@smsva.org.

 THE BASILICA SCHOOL OF SAINT MARY

400 Green Street  

Alexandria, VA  22314 

(703) 549-1646?