October Happenings In Saint Anne's School

Kindergarten students with their parents and teacher Mrs. Thaler making sandwiches to deliver to the Mary Brennan INN.

In a new school initiative, each grade is partnered with a ministry within Saint Anne's Parish to work hand in hand on a project or projects. This teaches the students the importance of giving back and opens up great communication and awareness between the school and all of the active ministries so busy at work. A few of the projects began in October with the others busy making plans for a productive and fulfilling year:

Eighth grade students partnered with the Share a Meal Ministry. On October 23rd the students gathered after school in the cafeteria. They worked together to prepare delicious meals and then helped deliver them to parishioners of St. Anne's who are experiencing difficult times.

On October 27th, Kindergarten and First grade students and their parents partnered with the Families in Service Ministry. The cafeteria was elbow to elbow as sandwich-makers young and old prepared one thousand sandwiches to be delivered to the Mary Brennan INN. In addition the group prepared hundreds of Halloween goodie bags to be delivered to the Department of Social Services for Halloween.

All of the adorable saints pose on the church steps with teachers Marianne Riccobono and Monica Hein.

Fourth and Fifth Grade students partnered with the Loaves and Fishes Ministry in conducting a coat and sweater drive. On October 21st and October 28th, the teams took the coats donated by the entire parish and sorted and bagged over 70 bags of warm coats and sweaters to be delivered to Parish Outreach centers at Our Lady of Loretto in Hempstead, St. Martha's Parish in Uniondale, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in Roosevelt and Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Wyandanch.

Other Happenings:

School band practices commenced and this year for the first time students from third grade to eighth grade were eligible to participate!

We look forward to hearing from them at the Christmas concert.

The Virgin Mary (Lily Grace Miller), St. Christopher (Jack Ryan) and St Oliver (Oliver Hvidsten).

Seventh and eighth grade students have started to volunteer their recess time several days a week to help out in classrooms of the younger students where some special bonds are formed.

The First Grade Saints went Marching In, continuing a long tradition at Saint Anne's School. Each student chose a saint to represent and memorized 3 or 4 lines to recite at a school assembly for students, parents and friends. It was pre-cious to see the children dressed to represent their saint. The best part is that by practicing their own lines and listening to their classmates the first graders really take away a good understanding of some of the early leaders and role models in the church. The day will be long remembered by all. In fact there are some 30 year-olds walking around that still remember their lines from the Saints Parade when they were in first grade.

The Pre-K classes visited the Garden City Firehouse. They watched a Sesame Street video on Fire Safety. They got to sit in trucks and hear about all of the gear and equipment. It was the perfect ending to a lesson in fire safety they were working on in the classroom.

Great costumes and plenty of smiles as the first graders show their stuff on the church steps.

On Friday, October 19th, Saint Anne's kindergarten classes took a tour of the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay. The children enjoyed learning about many different trees and plants.

Second graders are busy preparing for a very special and spiritual year as they look forward to receiving their First Holy Communion and also celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In the school service partnership, these second graders are now corresponding with our homebound parishioners, developing relationships that will be honored at the Homebound Mass in May. Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Grade students participated in a day at Project Adventure on Long Island. The day is designed to build students' self confidence in working together and stretching their limits. All felt it was time well spent!

In recent years, Father John has been celebrating very special and intimate Masses one class at a time. These Masses are celebrated in the chapel which is to be dedicated in memory of Monsignor Costello. Parents are encouraged to join their children as they take part in these celebrations of Eucha-rist.

In October four class Masses were celebrated for the seventh and eighth grade sections. All who took part agree they were moved by such a meaningful experience of the sacrament with their children.