February

     Good bye January, hello February!  I am not a person who likes the cold, so I look at February as one step closer to springtime.  With February, the season of Lent is charging toward us as well.  I have a love/hate relationship with Lent.  While it is difficult at times doing the extra activities that I set out to do and giving up meat on Fridays, it also prepares us for rebirth!  To help myself get through, I tell myself, "Its only one day.  He hung on the cross for me for three hours, the least I can do is go without meat (or whatever the challenge is at that time)."  My kids hear that statement a lot during Lent.  It puts the sacrifice into perspective. 
     The season of Lent is the continuation of the story.  If Jesus's life and our redemption were put into a series of movies, the nativity movie would come to a close with "To Be Continued..."  Lent and Easter would be the next movie in line, with a closing of "The Beginning!"  It is the beginning of eternal life for us.  So I keep all this in mind as I go through the season of Lent.  
     During guidance class this month, the focus will be the season of Lent.  I will be reading the Tale of Three Trees in kindergarten through 5th grade classes.   The book tells the story of three trees that have hopes of wonderful futures.  However, they are cut down and used during Christ's life.  Each realizes their special purpose and how it is much better than what they had each envisioned.  
     Here are some links to good reads for the season of Lent: 
 
http://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/10-lenten-traditions-to-enrich-your-familys-easter-celebration-11566549.html
This one is a basic overview of Lent but gives some suggestions for celebrating it as a family.

http://dynamiccatholic.com/bestlentever/
This link is to Matthew Kelly's Best Lent Ever sign up.  After signing up, you will receive a daily email throughout Lent.  It's a really good "food for thought" email!

     The 6th grade students will begin developing their individualized educations plans.  6th grade parents, look for letters coming home explaining the beginning of this program that will be utilized until they graduate from high school and possibly beyond that milestone.   Here is a link to give you a little bit of information about this process.  Their ILP's have some inspiring and eye-opening components that can encourage 6th graders to start thinking about their futures.
 http://education.ky.gov/educational/ccadv/ilp/Pages/default.aspx
    
 I hope everyone enjoys their February!  Please feel free to contact me at kim.bennett@owensborocatholic.org if you have any questions or comments.