St. Hugo of the Hills!! Parent Teacher Group

Inside this issue:!!Timmis Talk ! 1!!Counselor’s Corner 2,3! ! !Around School! 4!!Special Person Mass 5!!Tech Bytes, Kind Kids in action 6 !!Fun Run 7!! ! !Save the date 8 !

2013-2014 PTG Officers:!!President:!Carolyn Still-Love and Joe Love!President- Elect:!Meghan and John Zidar!Treasurer: !Susan and Bob Wilshaw!Treasurer Elect:!Joy and Christopher Nichols!Secretary:!Kristin and Brad Donoghue!2013 Teacher Reps:!Mrs. Grace Kurn!Principal: !Sr. Margaret Van Velzen!Assistant Principal:!Mr. Dan Timmis

May Volume 2, Issue 4

It#is#unbelievable#to#think#that#the#201342014#school#year#has#nearly#reached#its#conclusion.##It#has#been#a#fantas<c#year#and#we#are#so#very#thankful#to#our#parents,#teachers,#staff,#and#volunteers#who#all#play#vital#roles#in#fulfilling#the#mission#of#St.#Hugo#of#the#Hills#School.###

Before#the#year#ends,#we#will#be#celebra<ng#Field#Day#on#Friday,#June#6.##It#is#sure#to#be#a#terrific#event#and#we#are#all#collec<vely#praying#for#beau<ful#weather!##We#would#like#to#thank,#in#advance,#all#the#parents#and#teachers#who#are#working#together#to#ensure#the#day’s#success.###

As#many#students#and#parents#look#forward#to#all#the#wonderful#things#that#summer#has#in#store4#a#chance#to#relax,#opportuni<es#for#vaca<ons,#summer#sports#teams4#it#is#also#very#important#to#spend#some#<me#con<nuing#to#sharpen#the#skills#that#were#learned#throughout#the#school#year.##Parents,#please#encourage#your#children#to#delve#into#a#book#of#their#choice#during#the#summer.##Encouraging#a#love#of#reading#is#incredibly#important#at#every#age#and#it#is#a#skill#that#is#a#prerequisite#for#success#in#adulthood.#

Finally,#we#would#like#to#express#our#sincerest#gra<tude#to#the#S<ll4Love#family,#the#Zidar#family,#the#Wilshaw#family,#the#Donoghue#family,#the#Nichols#family,#and#Mrs.#Kurn#who#all#sacrificed#a#tremendous#amount#of#their#<me#and#talent#to#serve#on#the#Parent4Teacher#Guild#commiZee#this#year.##So#much#was#accomplished#and#the#level#of#teamwork#was#truly#extraordinary.##Thank#you#for#your#dedica<on#to#St.#Hugo#School.#

Please#enjoy#a#fantas<c#summer#vaca<on#and#I#look#forward#to#seeing#you#throughout#the#summer#and#again#when#we#return#in#August!#

Dan#Timmis

Timmis Talk

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Counselor’s Corner - Mrs. Ann Bartoli

Now#that#we#are#finally#having#some#wonderful#warm#sunny#days,#and#the#kids#can#play#outside,#all#is#“right#with#the#world”.##Well,#at#least#the#kids#are#enjoying#their#outdoor#recess#far#more#than#those#recess#spent#huddled#inside,#away#from#the#biZer#cold#weather…aren’t#they?!##Surprisingly,#the#answer#to#that#is#“No”#for#many#of#our#children.##

To#help#us#deal#with#some#of#the#exclusion,#name4calling#and#unfriendly#behavior#in#the#class#room#and#most#notably,#on#the#playground,#we#brought#in#“Kids#Empowered”,#a#husband#and#wife#team#that#spoke#to#our#fourth#through#sixth#grade#students#about#the#“Do’s#and#Don’ts#of#being#a#friendly#

or#unfriendly#classmate”.##All#parents#should#have#received#a#handout#from#the#presenta<on,#which#includes#some#great#ideas#to#help#your#students#learn#how#to#stand#up#to#meanness#and#help#themselves#and#their#fellow#classmates#learn#some#effec<ve#strategies#to#cope#with#unfriendly#behavior.###

In#the#mean<me#I#can’t#help#by#wonder,#“Hey,#we#are#a#Catholic#School!##Why#in#the#world#are#we#having#problems#with#mean#behavior?##Haven’t#we#all#taught#our#kids#to#live#according#to#Ephesians#4:32,#“And#be#ye#kind#one#to#another,#tenderhearted,#forgiving#one#another,#even#as#God#for#Christ's#sake#hath#forgiven#you.”?##Are#some#children#simply#good4natured#—#or#not?##

Gene<c#twin#studies#suggest#that#anywhere#from#a#quarter#to#more#than#half#of#our#propensity#to#be#giving#and#caring#is#inherited.#That#leaves#a#lot#of#room#for#parental#influence,#and#the#evidence#on#how#parents#raise#kind#and#compassionate#children#flies#in#the#face#of#what#many#of#even#the#most#well4inten<oned#parents#do#in#praising#good#behavior,#responding#to#bad#behavior,#and#communica<ng#their#values.#

Many#parents#believe#it’s#important#to#compliment#(or#reprimand)#the#behavior,#not#the#child#—#that#way,#the#child#learns#to#repeat#(or#cease)#the#behavior.#Indeed,#I#know#one#couple#who#are#careful#to#say,#“That#was#such#a#helpful#thing#to#do,”#instead#of,#“You’re#a#helpful#person.”#

But#is#that#the#right#approach?#In#a#clever#experiment,#the#researchers#Joan#E.#Grusec#and#Erica#Redler#set#out#to#inves<gate#what#happens#when#we#commend#generous#behavior#versus#generous#character.##They#discovered#that#praising#the#children’s#character#helped#them#internalize#it#as#part#of#their#iden<<es.#The#children#learned#who#they#were#from#observing#their#own#ac<ons:#“I#am#a#helpful#person.”#This#dovetails#with#new#research#led#by#the#psychologist#Christopher#J.#Bryan,#who#finds#that#for#moral#behaviors,#nouns#work#beZer#than#verbs.#To#get#34#to#64year4olds#to#help#with#a#task,#rather#than#invi<ng#them#“to#help,”#it#was#22#to#29#percent#more#effec<ve#to#encourage#them#

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#to#“be#a#helper.”#Chea<ng#was#cut#in#half#when#instead#of,#“Please#don’t#cheat,”#par<cipants#were#told,#“Please#don’t#be#a#cheater.”#When#our#ac<ons#become#a#reflec<on#of#our#character,#we#lean#more#heavily#toward#the#moral#and#generous#choices.#Over#<me#it#can#become#part#of#us.##

However,#when#children#behave#badly,#they#tend#to#feel#either#shame#(feeling#that#they#are#a#bad#person)#or#guilt#(that#they#did#a#bad#thing).--Shame#is#a#nega<ve#judgment#about#the#core#self,#which#is#devasta<ng:#Shame#makes#children#feel#small#and#worthless,#and#they#respond#either#by#lashing#out#at#the#target#or#escaping#the#situa<on#altogether.#In#contrast,#guilt#is#a#nega<ve#judgment#about#an#ac<on,#which#can#be#repaired#by#good#behavior.#When#children#feel#guilt,#they#tend#to#experience#remorse#and#regret,#empathize#with#the#person#they#have#harmed,#and#aim#to#make#it#right.#

The#most#effec<ve#response#to#bad#behavior#is#to#express#disappointment.#According#to#independent#reviews#by#Professor#Eisenberg#and#David#R.#Shaffer,#parents#raise#caring#children#by#expressing#disappointment#and#explaining#why#the#behavior#was#wrong,#how#it#affected#others,#and#how#they#can#rec<fy#the#situa<on.##The#best#way#to#relay#nega<ve#feedback#to#a#child#is#to#say#something#like:#“You’re#a#good#person,#even#if#you#did#a#bad#thing,#and#I#know#you#can#do#beZer.”#

Nonetheless,#as#we#all#know,#“Ac<ons#speak#louder#than#words.”##Children#learn#generosity#not#by#listening#to#what#their#role#models#say,#but#by#observing#what#they#do.##Modeling#appropriate#behavior#is#the#most#important#thing#you#can#do#for#your#children.##If#you#act#in#a#way#that#you#want#your#kids#to#act,#they’ll#learn#just#from#watching#you.#Modeling#behaviors#of#respect#for#children#means#behaving#in#the#way#you#expect#your#children#to#behave.#When#they#hear#you#use#polite#language#such#as#saying#"please"#or#lend#a#helping#hand#to#the#“new”#family#at#school,#you#are#showing#your#children#how#you#would#like#them#to#act.##As#a#parent,#your#ac<ons#speak#louder#than#your#words.##

Follow#the#anonymous#quote:#“Your#children#will#become#who#you#are;#so#be#who#you#want#them#to#be.”###

Have#a#fabulous#summer,#and#remember#that#according#to#James#Dent,#“A#perfect#summer#day#is#when#the#sun#is#shining,#the#breeze#is#blowing,#the#birds#are#singing,#and#the#lawn#mower#is#broken!”##

!4#Ann#Bartoli

The PTG Voice

Solidarity with South Sudan- Imagine a miracle! Training teachers, nurses, midwives, local farmers and community leaders in the youngest country in the world. Sister Joan Mumaw, IHM is a missionary who came to our school to talk to the children during Catholics schools week. Please take a minute to visit wwwsolidarityssudan.org. Our Junior High Students participated in a dodgeball tournament. The stands were filled with spectators and the court was filled with competitive fun! The Junior High did an incredible job raising awareness and funds for South Sudan.

We are Proud to Announce Next Years PTG Board for the 2014- 2015 School Year…

President- Meghan and John Zidar!President Elect - Laurie and Mike MacMichael!Treasurer- Joy and Christopher Nichols!Treasurer Elect- Michelle and Mike DesMarais!Secretary- Anita and Joe Petrosky

We will have an incredible year ahead ! Thank you for your commitment to St. Hugo School !

Around SchoolPage 4

Thank you to all of the Cast, Crew, Teachers and Parents that made The Little Mermaid such a success. A special thanks to Jonathon Napper, Noel Montales and Cathy Gregory for the gift of your talent and expertise you gave our 7th and 8th grade students.!Every show was filled with bright costumes, lively singing and dancing to create a memory of a lifetime for these students.

Thank You to Mrs. Brandt for making the Mersister! skirts!

The PTG Voice

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Special Person Masses!Two days of Special moments with the Special people in our lives.!!May 7th and 8th

St. Hugo Welcomes All Of The Special People In Our Lives. ! We Are Blessed To Have You Share This Day With Us.!

Tech Bytes

•! The#technology#improvements#for#the#201342014#school#year#include:##

o The#installa<on#of#a#wireless#network#throughout#the#building#

o The#main#computer#lab#replaced#39#computers#

o 25#iPads#

o 4#new#printers#

o 4#new#scanners#

o 3#new#digital#cameras#including#bags#and#memory#cards#

o All#of#the#classrooms#now#contain#document#cameras#

o 2#new#LED#projectors#were#purchased,#and#now#all#classrooms#have#them#

o 4#Promethean#Ac<vtouch#boards#were#purchased#and#installed#

o MobyMath#sooware#was#purchased#for#student#enrichment#in#class#and#at#home#

o BrainPop#sooware#home#version#was#purchased#for#student#enrichment#

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Kind Kids in Action…

Coach Bagel- a local area swim coach who’s coached and taught many Hugo children to swim- is selling bracelets to raise money for Kidney foundation. Consider

donating $2.00. Some of our students have been busy selling

bracelets at lunch.

Bank of America has decided to sponsor dinner for a group of kids in Pontiac once a month.  They go from school to latchkey and then dinner where they are picked up by their parents.  These kids would not have dinner otherwise. Dave DesMarais went to help with his mom Michelle. Pictured here, Dave ‘in action’ making fruit salad that he would later serve to the kids. The program is called Bound Together. !

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Please mark your calendars for this fabulous family event!!Our 2nd annual fun run will take place on Saturday, September 13th at 8:30 am. We will raise funds for Technology at St. Hugo School. We will raise awareness and funds for Angels’ Place.!!Please contact Anne Vachon with your interest in sponsorships at avachon@wowway.com or avachon@tipcapital.com!!Watch for details to continue on school website and school reach.!Registration is now open thru kid mail!and on line at active.com!

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Save The Date…!MAY 23RD, FRIDAY AND MAY 26TH, MONDAY - MEMORIAL DAY!!MAY 28TH - HONORING 8TH GRADE PARENTS WITH THE YOUNGEST CHILD GRADUATING FROM HUGO, COFFEE AND BREAKFAST TREATS SERVED IN THE GATHERING SPACE FOLLOWING 8:30 MASS.!!MAY 22ND - BAZAAR!!JUNE 4TH- GRADUATION 8TH GRADE!!JUNE 6TH - FIELD DAY ON SITE!!JUNE 10TH- SPRING USED BOOK AND UNIFORM SALE- 7:30 AM- 11:00 AM!!JUNE 11TH- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, 1/2 DAY- HAPPY SAFE AND HEALTHY SUMMER!!!AUGUST 18TH - 1:30-3:00 PM , KINDER AND YOUNG FIVE PICNIC ON THE PLAYGROUND AT ST. HUGO!!AUGUST 22ND - FALL BOOK SALE!!SEPTEMBER 13TH- SATURDAY- FUN RUN 8:30 AM!

What a way to celebrate your mother and end of the year gifts! Use script and benefit with your tuition. One More Order submitted May 27th! Remember Script Cards are available for Dennis Uniforms!Create on account at www.shopwithscrip.com and put in St. Hugo enrollment code which is: A618CCLL144L2. Rebates range from 1.5% to 17% Questions? Contact :Beth Nunning, Nunning@wowway.com for more information.

Script-

Is your child interested in working with clay? Ms. Bitzinger will be offering a 2-day after-school clay class again next year. The classes this year with our new Kiln were filled with fun and creativity for Grades 1 - 8. Kindergarteners may attend if an older sibling has also signed up. Cost:  $45.00. Max 20 students  !!Your child will learn basic hand building techniques as they sculpt their very own unique clay project. On the second day, the student will then glaze the piece. If interested, please contact Ms. Bitzinger at annabitzinger@sthugoschools.org with your child's name, a parent's name and the best contact number.  Students will be registered upon payment of check made to Anna Bitzinger. Students are encouraged to bring a snack to have before class begins. Parents may pick up their child in the rear parking lot.  Projects will be delivered to student upon firing in the kiln.!!Look for dates to be announced next fall.