NATIVITY BVM HIGH SCHOOL ONE LAWTONS HILL, POTTSVILLE, PA 17901 PHONE NO: (570) 622-8110 FAX (570) 622-0454 DECEMBER 2016 NEWSLETTER

FROM THE PRINCIPAL MERRY CHRISTMAS! As we begin the season of Advent which brings many blessings to us, let us take the opportunity to prepare our hearts and minds for the birthday of Jesus. During homeroom each day members of the student body pray together at the Advent Wreath in the Main Lobby. The blessing of the Advent Wreath and our Advent Penance Service help us to prepare spiritually for the birth of Christ. Finally, we celebrate together the joy of Christmas at our school Christmas Liturgy. Please join us at the many religious services during the month of December and at our annual Christmas concert. Christmas is a special time for all of us. It is a time for us to recognize the love and goodness of God and a time to know that Jesus has come among us. Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Happy New Year!

Governance Board

Christmas Holidays Tradition Continues!

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The Nativity Governance Board continues to work with the School’s administration for the benefit of Nativity BVM High School. We continue to work on increasing enrollment, increasing financial aid and upgrading the school facility. The Board remains committed to continuing to grow Nativity’s enrollment and to providing a Nativity education to all who desire one, regardless of ability to pay. Our efforts in marketing, enrollment and fundraising will continue to make Nativity a viable and vibrant educational alternative well into the future.

We will again be decorating our Christmas tree in the lobby. Students are asked to bring in an ornament to hang on the tree. This was a great success last year as the tree symbolized the entire Nativity community. Please remind your children to bring an ornament in to school.

Liturgical Calendar

Looking ahead: School will be closed on Monday, January 16, 2017 for a Teacher/Staff In-Service.

December 8th December 15th December 22nd

Liturgy – 10:30 AM Advent Penance Service – 10:30 AM Liturgy – Christmas @ 10:30 AM

Our Christmas Vacation extends from Friday, December 23rd, through Monday, January 2, 2017. School reopens on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

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STUDIES OFFICE NEWS Deficiency notices will be sent to the parent’s home on Wednesday, December 7th. Parents and students should be aware that this is the mid-way point of the second quarter. Deficiencies are a reminder that extra effort needs to be made in the second half of the quarter. As a reminder, semester classes will be completed at the end of the second quarter and a final average will be calculated for these classes. Since a failing grade in a semester class is a failing grade for the year, the class must be made up either by attending summer school or a program approved by the principal. There is a fee for these programs. Mid- year exams will be administered on Tuesday, January 17th, Wednesday, January 18th and Thursday, January 19th. These exams are 75 minutes in length and count 20% toward the first semester grade. Students should be encouraged to begin to prepare early for these important exams. The second quarter will end Friday, January 20th.

DEVELOPMENT NEWS REGISTRATION for the 20172018 school year at Nativity is scheduled for Sunday, January 22, 2017 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the school. Faculty, Staff, Administration and Coaches will be available to answer questions. Tours of the school will be given and tuition assistance drawings will be available that afternoon for those who register. Please contact Jennifer Daubert at 570-622-8110 with any questions.

POT OF GOLD WINNERS NOVEMBER 11, 2016 1) 2) 3) 4)

Ann Marie Riotto Jane Salerno Kelly Reno A. Shilcusky

seller: Mikaela Tobash seller: Nicholas Salerno seller: Ari Keim seller: A. Shilcusky

Financial Concerns Please make yourself aware of the tuition collection policy. It is posted on the school website. It is essential that all families keep their tuition and fundraising payments up to date. Students who have outstanding balances will not be able to receive report cards, take exams or possibly not be able to participate in activities. This includes attending the Christmas Dance. Seniors who are applying to college must have their financial obligations up to date in order for transcripts to be released. Please make every effort to make payments in a timely fashion. It is crucial to the cash flow of the school. Thank you for your understanding!

Dress Code Please take the time over the holidays to make sure that your son/daughter has appropriate uniforms. Skirt length, shoes and school polo shirts have been addressed. Please refer to the Student Handbook if you have any questions relating to dress code or contact Mr. Jarrod Kramer.

Diocesan Music Festival Nativity BVM high school has the privilege and honor of hosting the Diocesan Music Festival from Thursday, January 26th through Saturday, January 28th. The concert will be held on Saturday, January 28th @ 2 PM and all are invited. Donations to offset the cost of this event will be greatly appreciated. More information to follow.

FROM THE GUIDANCE OFFICE FAFSA Completion – If you need assistance with FAFSA completion, please call Guidance. An appointment can be made with an expert from EOC guidance. For more financial aid information, visit financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov. Scholarship Information – A list of Scholarship information has been posted on the Nativity Website under Guidance. A list is also available in guidance. Announcements are made weekly on scholarship availability and deadlines. Seniors received a hard copy in their home room and a packet was given out at financial night. Be sure to search the Financial Aid Offices website at your college of choice for their specific scholarships. Private and public colleges and universities do have a gambit of scholarships available. It will be well worth your time to check. If you do not ask, you may not receive all of the available aid. National Multiple Sclerosis Scholarship Program – Scholarships available to any senior with MS or who is a child of someone with MS. Applications due by January 15, 2017. Seniors – Continue to persevere with College Applications and Scholarships. Many colleges have Open Houses to accommodate any seniors still unsure of what college they wish to attend. Check out their websites. Be sure to visit each college you have are interested in attending. It is a big decision to make! Juniors – Now is the time to explore your career choice and start thinking about your college major. All juniors will be completing a Career Search in the month of January. The search will connect juniors to college majors and colleges that offer their major of interest. Juniors it is crucial that you start thinking about your future. All juniors will meet with Ms. Stasulli in Spring 2017. www.onetonline.org is a great site to explore careers. SAT & ACT – SAT and ACT information and advice is available in Guidance. Dates are posted outside of guidance and near the cafeteria. Juniors are advised to take the SAT in the spring. Fee Waivers are available for qualified students. Sophomore HOBY Leadership Award - For sophomores early December is time for the appointment of the Nativity Hugh O’Brien Leadership recipient. The HOBY recipient is chosen by a faculty committee based on a submitted leadership essay and their qualities as a leader. Former HOBY rep, Tyler Zimerofsky, spoke to all sophomores in November on his experiences. The winner will attend a 4 day leadership conference in May at Shippensburg University. Please see Ms. Stasulli for details. Winners will be announced the first week of December. College Acceptances – Many Nativity seniors have already been accepted to the colleges/universities of their choice. Congratulations! Your hard work paid off!

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WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND SCHOOL ATHLETIC NEWS ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME Induction ceremonies for Nativity’s Athletic Hall of Fame will take place on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at our Girls Basketball game vs. Shenandoah Valley High School. A lunch reception for inductees and their families will take place at the school beginning at 11:15 AM. The formal induction ceremony will be held in between the JV and Varsity games. The JV game begins at 12:30 PM.

Club Congratulations to the Math Club teams who participated in the Bloomsburg University Competition. Our teams finished in the top 28 out of 80 teams.

STUDENT COUNCIL DECEMBER 2016

Interact Club Members of the Interact Club collected winter clothing during the month of November. All clothing was donated to local organizations. Members of the Club have been delivering Meals on Wheels twice a month on Wednesdays. The students deliver the meals over their lunch period. Members of the club also collected diapers for the Nurse-Family Partnership. The Interact Club sponsored a Red Cross Blood Drive on November 9, 2016. We met our goal and will sponsor this event again in the spring. A special thank you to Tyler Zimerofsky, Chloe Prezelski and Mady Ulsh for their efforts in setting up and promoting this important event. The next event will be the writing of Christmas cards to the students in grades Pre-K through 2nd in our partner schools. The Interact Club is also sponsoring a Dress Down day on December 2nd to collect money for “Giving Our Gift,” which will purchase Christmas gifts for the children at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Senior Citizen Christmas Program: Wednesday, December 14th . Beginning at 11AM. Christmas Dance: Friday, December 23. Begins at 6PM at The Lodge at Sharp Mountain.

SENIOR INFORMATION CAP & GOWN measurements will be taken on December 12th. There are no charges for the Graduation Cap & Gown as long as your Graduation Fee is paid. At this time, Mr. Jeff Crouse, Herff Jones, will present a package to each student regarding graduation announcements and memorabilia. Please read all information and decide if you want any announcements, etc. Packets are asked to be returned by January 24, 2017. THANK YOU for your cooperation! If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Jane Yourey at 570-622-8110. Jane Yourey

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FROM THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT The Nativity Concert Band and Concert Chorus are putting the final touches on the musical selections that will be performed at the annual Christmas concert Sunday, December 11 at 7:00 PM in the Nativity gym. Also performing at the concert will be the combined Partner School Band which includes students from the 4 schools that feed into Nativity. Admission is free, with donations gratefully accepted. On December 14th, the Concert Chorus will perform selections from the concert for the student body and guests from area nursing homes; and the Concert Band, which played Christmas carols at the Ashland tree lighting November 26, will also play carols at the Pottsville Tree Gala at 2:30 PM December 4 th at the Pottsville Masonic Building, 2nd and Norwegian Sts. in Pottsville. Nine members of the Nativity Concert Band will participate in the Lebanon Valley College Middle School Band Festival Thursday, January 12th in Annville, with a public concert at 7 PM that evening. Preparations are being made for Nativity to host the annual Diocesan Music Festival January 26th, 27th , and 28th ; more details in next month’s newsletter The Nativity Music Department wishes the Nativity Community a Happy, Blessed, and Musical Christmas and as always, greatly appreciates the support of the Arts in our schools. INFORMATION ON THE ROMA FUNDRAISER to everyone who came to Roma Pizza and supported the Band and Chorus Fundraiser on November 15 , raising $513 towards the programs. th

The raffle winners are: Fifty-fifty- $47.50 the winner wishes to remain anonymous and donated the money back to the Band and Chorus Programs. Lottery Cornucopia – Webb Lighted Santa Dog Christmas Decoration – C. Stasulli Lemax Noel’s Christmas Shoppe – Molly Webb Alex & Ani Sweet Melody Bracelet – Rose Yavulla $25 Sheetz Gift Card – Gerri Lubinsky Bath & Body Works Gingerbread Candle – E. Gasper $10 Dunkin & $10 Taco Bell Gift Card – Bowers

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Green and Gold News The Green and Gold Booster Club is having a Vendor/Craft/Food Sale on December 4th. Vendors include, LuLaRoe,( two of them), Mary Kay, 31, Posh, Tastefully Simple, Pampered Chef, Scentsy, Crafters, Home Made Chocolates and many more. Come and do some shopping for Christmas. Please support these local vendors and crafters as you support us. Also, our $20,000.00 Raffle will be held on December 12, 2016 at the home basketball game. We still have tickets for sale @ $100 each. Please contact Jane in the school office if you would like to purchase a ticket or know of someone who might want to purchase a ticket.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM NEWS HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS FOR CHRISTMAS During the week of December 12th, every time you place a $500.00 or more order for certificates, you will receive a free $25 gift card from one of the following: Sheetz, Boscov’s, Kohls, Cabelas, Vito’s, Palermos, Schuylkill Valley, Olive Garden or Red Lobster. PLEASE NOTE: The last day to order Scrip Certificates for Christmas is December 16, 2016. If you have any questions call Sue Eckley at 570640-0930. SPECIAL THANK YOU: I would like to THANK all of you for making the certificate program a great success. Sue Eckley

Thank you for your support and Merry Christmas!

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND BLESSINGS IN THE NEW YEAR