.++++++

Immaculate Conception School 409 Palmer Rd.

Columbia, Illinois 62236 Michael L. Kish, Principal

(618) 281-5353 mkish@icsmail.org Tammy Hoeflinger, School Board President

Celebrating 166 years of Mission, Community, Service.

The mission of Immaculate Conception School is to provide experiences to inspire, challenge, and nurture the mind, body, and spirit of our students within the framework of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

and the tradition of the Catholic Church.

“God is good!” March 6, 2020 Bienvenido el parochia! V. 45 #35 Dear Parents, Guardians, and Friends,

Illinois 8th Cavalry was first to engage Petersen House Lincoln Memorial

Amphitheater at Arlington National Law Enforcement Memorial

Gift Bearers Servers Original Church at Jamestown FATHER'S CLUB POKER TONIGHT! https://www.facebook.com/ICSFathersClub/ Garden level 7:00. I can’t make it as I will be at the State Masonic Scholastic Bowl match where Gibault and Grandson Spencer will be in action. So you have a better chance of winning!

DC Trip #35 Over 30 stops----terrific weather! Gettysburg, Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (and our former Bishop Wilton Gregory is the Archbishop), Ford’s Theatre, National Archives, 3 Smithsonian’s minimum, Union Station, Mt. Vernon, (Pentagon Memorial was closed for repair), crypt at Washington National Cathedral, Embassy Row, The Capitol, WW II Memorial, Vietnam Wall, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, FDR, MLK, Jr., Kennedy Center(a duet from Portugal was on the Millennial Stage playing The Nutcracker), Arlington National Cemetery, Holocaust Museum, Historic Jamestown, Jamestown Settlement, Colonial Williamsburg. Blessings on our chaperons: Heather Pollmann, Melissa Schaefer, Gina Thompson, Kim Foutch, Molly Hake, Holly Blaskiewicz, Lynetta Newton, Beth Glasscock, Carrie Stark, Teresa Dorshorst, Chris , Videmschek, Tom Swip, Jean Swip, Andrea Harget, Troy Harget, Steve Ward, Angie Mauch, Kevin McGill, Ed Williamson, Catie Tyler, Kelly Koppeis, Lauren Powers, Becky Stechmesser, Mark Swindle, Tom Keeven, Jr., Brad Kesler, Brandon Roche, Libby Kostelac, Allison Sanker, Don Murphy, Tim Griffin, Devin Dalpoas, Dom Dalpoas, Sr., Catie Taylor, Dan Kassebaum, Maren Donjon, Angie Pace. Special thanks to our servers Kristina Videmschek and Lindsay Harget and our Gift Bearers Thomas Schaefer, Owen Dalpoas, Kyra Newton, and Elisabeth Schaefer. Andrew Donjon and Aubrey Thompson helped with our prayer service at the National Law Enforcement Memorial. They said a Prayer for Police and the names of 11 law enforcement members killed in the line of duty this past year from Illinois were read including State Trooper Nick Hopkins. We also found Columbia’s Sgt. Al Descher’s name on the wall and John Oberkramer who was killed in the line of duty in the late 1970’s. He was the partner of Chris Videmschek’s Dad. William Sanker got Brian Mitchell’s autograph at Pentagon City. He ranks only behind Jerry Rice as a return specialist and won the Super Bowl in 1999. You can talk about Pocahontas or stand on the site of the Church where she married John Rolfe. And the Class of 2020 was great to travel with! Thanks be to God!

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHY BEE-STATE FINALIST For the second consecutive year, William Sanker qualified for the State Geography Bee sponsored by National Geographic. He will take the State test on March 27. Over 200,000 students take the initial test to qualify for the top 100 in the State. William is pictured with his Geography Teacher Cheryl Tolan.

MONROE/RANDOLPH ART COMPETITION The Immaculate Conception Art Team of 15 students(8th in DC), with 5th grade competing for the first time, brought home 14 first place, 1 second and 4 Judges Choice including 6 perfect scores! Students had one hour to complete their project. Thank you to Mrs. Sue Lewis for stepping up to judge! Congratulations to our Team and Mrs. Fetcho. Emma Tyler missed today’s picture.

5th grade- Hayden Lieber 1st (judge’s choice), Naomi Langhans 1st, Avery Melliere 1st( judge’s choice), Ryan Kroenig 1st, Will Wittenauer 1st. 6th grade- Karina Jerkatis 1st, Avery Herrmann 1st, Paul Ott 1st, Cheyenne May 1st(perfect score), Emma Tyler 1st. 7th grade - Brooke Heimburger 1st(judge’s choice), Luisanny Capellan 1st, Kaiden Timmons 1st (perfect score), Brady Moore 2nd, Claire Barbour 1st (judge’s choice).

PICTURE THE MUSIC What a night! Beautiful music and visual arts combine to create their own music. Congratulations to Genevieve Nadziejko, Paul Ott and Karina Jerkatis on placing in the top 100 out of over 400 pieces submitted from 47 schools. Over 12,000 students started this competition! They were honored on stage at Powell Symphony Hall. Their art will be traveling and displayed over the next 6 weeks starting with Plaza Frontenac 3/5 - 3/15, The Magic House 3/16 - 3/29, St. Louis Public Library (Schlafly Branch) 3/30 - 4/5, and St. Peter's Cultural Arts Centre 4/6 - 4/19. Carol Fetcho is the ICS Art Teacher. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL WILL HOLD REGISTRATION for Pre-School, Pre-K, Kindergarten and new students for all grades for the 2019-2020 school year on Sunday, March 15, 20120 from 10:00 am until 12:30 pm in the ICHTUS HALL(office area). Parents should bring the child's baptismal certificate if not baptized at Immaculate Conception Parish and a stamped birth certificate. (We will make a copy, initial the copy, and return the original that day as per Illinois School Code.) If you are looking for small class sizes, more individual attention, better preparation for high school and college, student self-discipline, responsive teachers, administration, safety, world class field trips and assemblies and a new school--- all in a Christian environment, then find out how we’ve built “Mission-Community-Service…since 1853”. Check us out at www.icscolumbia.org . Questions? Need a personal tour? Can’t make that date? Call ICS at 281-5353 or email Mike Kish at mkish@icsmail.org or any ICS Parent! MAGAZINE DRIVE We received another profit check for $6254.60 from on-line sales! Our winning class and student qualifiers are headed to the Cardinals-Reds game on April 22. If you would like to attend, tickets are $12 payable to ICS. Contact Mrs. Epplin!

Grade 4 spent some intergenerational time with Columbia Senior Citizens this week!

REGIONAL HISTORY BEE Six members of our History Bee Team will be competing in the regional finals at U of I in Champaign tomorrow. They are trying to qualify for the National Finals in Chicago this June. Good luck to Brock Murphy, Izzy Foutch, William Sanker, Ava Blaskiewicz, Layne Traxler, and Genevieve Nadziejko. Kyra Newton, Cade Kostelac and Drew Roche compete in Missouri later due to conflicts and two other math contests tomorrow. GOOD LUCK TO OUR STUDENTS COMPETING IN MATH CONTESTS TOMORROW:

SLUH MATH- Allison Stark, Kyra Newton, Olivia Blaskiewicz, Lindsay Harget, Gavin Kesler, Owen Dalpoas, Drew Roche, and Grady Frierdich COR JESU MATH CONTEST-Claire Barbour, Avery Herrmann, Eva Haywood, Caroline Roche Chess Meets: ICS - March 7, St. Clare - March 14, Queen of Peace - April 4 (Diocesan) Chess Practices: Garden Level Tuesdays from 3:00-4:30 Gr. 2-3 3/17, 3/31 Grades 4 through 8 - 3/10, 3/24

MARCH 19TH IS THE FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH. We would like to invite all dads, grandfathers, godfathers, uncles, adoptive father figures, spiritual father-figures to Mass that morning. Block out your work schedule for a late start on March 19. Mass-snack-and off to work! Father’s Day is June 21 and we think we will be out of school so let’s honor the men in our lives who help mom raise us up in “wisdom and age and grace before God and mankind”!

Parents and Friends will host a Father-Daughter Dance on March 14. You can still sign-up. Contact Jessica Sheehan for your reservation! Also to clarify some questions: attire is Sunday best but there is no code. It’s a night where girls can dress fancy but dressing in “costume” is optional,

PARENTS AND FRIENDS MEETING Parents & Friends March 9, 2020 7 pm IC Garden Level Agenda I. Opening Prayer II. President Report: Holly Blaskiewicz III. Vice-President Report: Stephanie Roccosalva IV. Secretary Report: Katie Hart V. Treasurer's Report: Kate Kienzle VI. Public Relations Representative: Kara Boyd VII. Teacher's Report: TBD VIII. Principal's Report: Mr. Kish IX. Old Business - Dinner Auction: Mandy McGuire, Tricia Haywood, Jolene Sasser - Casmir P Fundraiser: Amanda Buhr - Dining Out for ICS: Laurie Conrad, Jessi Gianino X. New Business - Box Tops: Dierdra Doerr & Angie Gregorski

- Give STL Day: Joyce Randle, Donna Fredrick - 5K: Holly Blaskiewicz, Nicole Schuette, Priscilla Wilkerson, Amanda Sander, Jill Thomas - ICS Spirit-wear: Jessi Gianino & Lauren Conner - Mother/Daughter Event: Jessica Sheehan & Erin Pechacek - Teacher & Staff Appreciation: Sarah Theiret XI. New Ideas to Discuss XII. Closing Prayer XIII. Next Meeting Dates: 4/20 TBD 5/11 Tinys XIV. Important P&F Event Dates Friday, May 1st: P&F 5K & Fun Glow Run Thursday, August 20th: P&F Bags & Bubbly CRUSADERS' TEACHER SPOTLIGHT At ICS our children are led each day by some of the best teachers in the country. Their talents, background and community involvement, along with their phenomenal education, bring an addition to the classroom that sets ICS apart from other schools. This month's Crusaders' Teacher Spotlight goes to our fabulous second grade teacher, Mrs. Diewald. Please click here to learn more about this wonderful ICS teacher! COMMUNION As a parish, we are seeking to be proactive about the spread of the Coronavirus without causing any panic. Since this virus seems to be difficult to contain or diagnose, we will take the exceptional measure of not drinking the Blood of Christ at all Masses here at Immaculate Conception, beginning immediately, until this crisis passes. However, we will have our Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharistic present at their regular stations holding the empty chalice, and invite everyone to make a reverent bow to the Chalice after receiving the Body of Christ, demonstrating our respect for the Blood Christ shed for us on the cross, and our desire to drink from the Chalice again soon. Also, as another precautionary measure, we ask everyone to receive the Body of Christ in their hand, and not on their tongue. We implement these exceptional measures for the common good. MaryBeth As a School…avoiding the contagion of COVID-19…

Help protect your health Following these simple steps can help protect you and your community from the new coronavirus, the flu and

other common illnesses.

KEEP CLEAN HANDS

Wash your hands often, especially after being in public or handling money, using your cellphone or typing on your keyboard - which all tend to be covered in germs.

AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE

Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth without washing your hands first.

PRACTICE HEALTHY HABITS

Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

PUT YOUR WELL-BEING FIRST

Not feeling well? Take the day off to help prevent yourself from spreading germs or feeling any worse.

TRAVEL SAFELY

Before you book a trip or get on a plane, check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention travel safety page to confirm current guidelines or warnings.

Along with the above, head to the doctor if you suspect the flu and stay home till your fever is gone. We will work closely with the Monroe County Health Department and follow recommendations from the CDC. Our attendance is good right now with few fevers with no reports of Flu B. If we do get a case, we will take necessary action. Stations of the Cross… Friday afternoons at 2:15 and Friday evenings at 7p.m. in church. K of C Fish Fry Schedule... Mar 13, Mar 27, & April 10 In the ICS Cafeteria from 4-7p.m. Anyone wishing to help with the fish fry event, donate a dessert, serve, clean up, host, or just show up for moral support, please contact Jim VonDerHaar @ 314-494-8874 or jvonderhaar@bhhsselectstl.com

TURN THEM LOOSE!!!!!!! Thanks to some heavy lifters from the Fathers club, the turf is down in the Ga Ga Pit as of last night. Denis Ling and Mike Whelan taped the seams so all should be a go. Some of the turf looks whiter than other parts. Those are the areas that were facing out and thus had the sun bleaching them for the last 5 years. The rest should bleach out over this spring and summer. Thanks to the TINKERS and FATHERS’ CLUB for getting this done. Scholastic Bowl 2020 Blessed Sacrament Varsity won 2. JV split. Columbia Middle School Varsity split JV split. Tuesday, January 21st St. James JV only-won 2 Queen of Peace Varsity won 2 JV won 2 Queen of Peace Varsity 2 wins JV 2 wins Blessed Sacrament Varsity won 2 JV split Mater Dei Tournament @ Mater Dei High Third Place of 25 schools, Brock Murphy Toss-up Champ All Saints Varsity won 2 JV won 2 St. Theresa Varsity won 2 JV split Tuesday, February 11 th @ Carriel Jr High – O’Fallon Varsity lost 2 JV split Thursday, February 27 th @ Triad Varsity won both. JV won both.

Tuesday, March 10th Fulton Jr. High – O’Fallon Wednesday, March 11th @ Aviston Wednesday, March 18th Lincoln Middle School – Edwardsville Monday, March 23rd All Saints Tuesday, March 31st Liberty Middle School – Edwardsville Thursday, April 2nd @ Fulton Jr. High – O’Fallon Monday, April 6th Aviston Tuesday, April 14th Carriel Jr. High – O’Fallon Wednesday, April 15th @ Lincoln Middle School – Edwardsville Tuesday, April 21st @ Liberty Middle School – Edwardsville Wednesday, April 29th Regional Monday, May 4 th Sectional Friday, May 8th State @ Peoria Civic Center

This is Dr. Seuss Week. Cole chose him for his biography parade a

couple weeks ago. I asked Hazel who this was and she said “The Cat

in the Hat!” I told her it was Cole!

2020 Actors' Attic Musical-in-a-Week camps will feature Seussical, KIDS for Grades 1-5;

Shrek Jr. for Grades 6-8; and Mary Poppins Jr. for Grades 9-13. It all happens in June! See

the forms attached for corresponding dates and all the information. Payment online is preferred

at https://the-actors-attic.square.site/ If you have any questions, contact MaryBeth Babcock

at actorsattic@gmail.org

THE COLUMBIA ROTARY CLUB 10TH ANNUAL MOUSE DERBY AND SILENT AUCTION IS

FRIDAY NIGHT MAY 8 AT tHE FALLS. The Rotary has been very supportive of our school so please support them.

CALENDAR --- March 6 Statons 2:15 and 7:00, Texas Hold’em Garden Level---ICS Fathers Club--- Come get a hand! March 7 SLU High Math Contest, Cor Jesu, 6-7th Girls math contest, Chess Meet HERE March 8 12:15 Knights of Columbus 8th Grade Essay Contest March 10 Adventures in Medicine at St. Louis University Grades 7-8 Orthopedic---shoulder and knee dissection March 13 Stations at 2:15 and 7:00, KC Fish Fry here March 14 Daddy-Daughter Dance, Regional Science Olympiad, Parish Workday March 15 ICS new student registation---Icthus Hall by the office, Confirmation Retreat Grade 8 with REAP Team March 19 Feast of St. Joseph---Dads and Spiritual Dads join us for Mass at 8:05 March 20 Early Release at 11:20, Teacher in-service, Stations at 7:00 March 25 Reconciliation at 1:00 and 1:45 March 27 Chicage Gr. 7, Butterfly Project with Sr. Thea Bowman Gr. 1, Stations 2:15 and 7:00 March 28 Young Authors Conference at Sparta Lincoln March 29 Parish Reconciliaion Service April 1 Census Day April 2 Magic House-Gr. 3 April 3 Living Stations by grade 8 in gym at 2:00 April 6 Shakespeare St. Louis Gr. 5-8 April 7 Chrism Mass Gr. 8 April 8 School no bus Aapril 9 Holy Thursday-Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7:00, No School April 10 Good Friday: Noon at City Hall for Community, 7:00 IC, KC Fish Fry 4:00-7:00 April 13 No School April 17 Zac Epplin Golf Tournament at Ann Briar April 18 First Eucharist Retreat April 21 Water Field Trip Gr. 4 April 22 Cards Game for Magazine Drive, April 23 ROE Spelling Bee, St. John Lutheran Red Bud April 24 Memphis Field Trip Gr. 6-7 April 26 First Eucharist, Confirmation at Cathedral for 8th Grade on Scholastic Bowl Team April 29 Confirmation here, Scholar Bowl Regional May 1 May Crowning bring flowers

Society of St. Vincent De Paul Night-time Drop in Center Needs Your Help The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Night-Time Drop-In Center opened in December and has operated at full capacity almost every night, helping homeless men, women and children survive freezing temperatures and dangers of the city streets. We humbly ask for your prayers for the Center and its clients and, if you are able, to help us provide sack lunch items (individually packaged)

for them: cookies fruit cups tuna and chicken snack packs chips crackers cheese sticks yogurt cereal Pop Tarts breakfast bars soup or pasta in a cup bottled water Items can be dropped off at the SVDP office, 13 Vieux Carre Drive, (Loisel Village-immediately off Route 157 across from Sav-A-Lot) or at the SVDP Help Center, 3718 State Street, East St. Louis. For additional information contact Joe Hubbard, 394-0126, or Pat Hogrebe, 799-8505. Thank you and God bless you for your generosity which enables our ministry to the poorest among us. Seth Conner is in the hospital and has improved some. Please keep up the prayers. George Perry, Karen Weiler’s dad, has been in ICU but is much better. Prayers help but the docs must do their work! Sharon Smith, Beth Johns beloved Aunt, passed away on Sunday. There has been great consolation for the family with her Church support through the end. Her funeral liturgy is today. Rest in peace Aunt Sharon. PRAYERS: Special Intention George Perry, Seth Conner, Geraldine McCoy, Kathy Neal, Logan Eichenseer, Patrick Kish, Marian Wickersham, Lauren Darr, Ashley Burris, Lindsay White, Danielle Dorlac, Tom Keeven Sr., Ed Schaefer, Dan Hoeflinger, Libby LoPorto, Tom Giovanni, Dion Scherr Miller, Donna Kania, Owen Jordan, Anthony Hendricks, Mark Fiore, Shawn Eichoff, Charlie Stockes, Angela Roepke, Jan Hoffmann, Bill West, Jennifer Nesser, Tom Kish, Patti Rottler, Mike Taylor “LORD, IT IS GOOD THAT WE ARE HERE.” It is hard to imagine being at Jesus Transfiguration. It had to be like all the highlights of your life rolled into one moment. It had to be a moment in time that you did not want to end. “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” What a mandate from God the Father! And another reason to keep studying the Gospels and following the Lord. And again, building 3 tents for Jesus and Moses and Elijah---maybe they would have contracted Saul(Paul) the tent maker? Come and hear the charge from this Sunday’s Gospel. Renew your commitment to prayer-fasting-almsgiving. We have so little control over what life does to us. All we have is our response!

Mike Kish Principal PS Chess Team, 2 math contests, National History Bee Regionals---Nearly 100 students will have school tomorrow. ICS is the school of opportunity!

PS KC Essay Contest Sunday. See the parish bulletin! 12:30 Mr. Kassebaum’s Room 225. PS Happy Birthday to Mrs. Carol Fetcho on Sunday, Mrs. Sarah Diewald and Mr. Dan Kassebaum on March 12, Mrs. Kim Diesel on March 19 and Mrs. Shari Murphy on the 25th. PS Parent meeting for Memphis- Chicago-DC on March 16 at 7:00 in the Garden Level fro Grades 6-7. A thank you from Max from the Conner Family.

Immaculate Conception Ga-Ga Rules

The Jim Lewis Arena

1. Designate one (1) non-player as the referee at the beginning of the game. The referee is the sole authority during play of the game. The referee needs to stand outside the Pit during the game. The referee is responsible for settling disputes and making sure the play is fair. A new referee is recommended for each new game.

2. The referee begins play only after all the players are standing in the Ga-Ga pit and are touching the side walls with a hand, this indicates everyone is ready to play.

3. If the ball caught, everyone must re-touch the wall and it starts over with the “ga-ga” bounce. If the ball goes out – it restarts with a wall touch and two bounces.

4. One player tosses the ball into the air. On the first bounce, all yell “Ga” and on the second bounce, yell “Ga” then the game is started.

5. Any player who is touched by the ball BELOW THE WAIST, either by direct hit or by a rebound off the wall, is out and must leave the pit as soon as possible, without any further contact with the ball.

6. If the ball contacts a player ABOVE THE WAIST, the last player who hit the ball is out. The player who was hit by the ball is still in play.

7. If the ball is caught before it bounces in the pit, the last player to hit the ball is out. 8. If the ball goes out of the Pit, the last player who hit the ball is out. 9. If a player outside the Pit catches the ball that goes over the wall before it bounces, the

player who hit the ball out of the pit is out of the game. The player who caught the ball is allowed back into the pit. There is no reaching over the wall to catch the ball – do not reach into the pit.

10. There are no double touches – a player cannot contact the ball twice in a row, it must be touched by someone else or hit the wall before said player can touch the ball again. If there is a double touch, that player is out.

11. There is no time limit for the game and no age limits, but if possible, big kids play big kids, little kids play little kids – just as a safety precaution.

12. If there are only two (2) players left in the pit, a player can hit the ball up to three (3) times in a row. The ball is “rejuvenated” by contact with the wall and the hit count resets.

13. If the ball is hit by multiple players at the same time, and is caught by someone, all the players who hit the ball are out. This is a call for the referee.

14. Players can “ride” the wall – use the wall to lift themselves up so they can avoid being hit. If they are hit, they are out and must exit the pit.