January 15, 2010

Dear Parents,

While watching the daily news or reading the daily newspaper it is not possible to escape a story about our crippled economy and the effects that are rippling through our lives. As registration is fast approaching, I, along with other Catholic school administrators, will hold my breath hoping that the economy does not take from us our students or prevent new students from enrolling.

I know many of you are making major sacrifices to send your child(ren)to our school. I am a product of Catholic schools and a life-long employee in Catholic schools. I firmly believe that Catholic schools offer many intangibles to their students that may not be found in other educational venues. Catholic schools possess characteristics unlike the other schools:

1. Our values – many Catholics teach in public schools; however, teachers in a Catholic school have made a commitment to embrace a common set of Catholic-Christian values. They buy into core beliefs that they bring to all their classes, not just religion classes. Our faith is a part of everything we do at school: academic classes, discipline, extracurricular activities, etc.
2. Our Eucharistic celebrations – Catholics schools can celebrate the Eucharist more often and integrate these celebrations with all or any type of school activities. School Mass is an ideal time for adults to model appropriate Mass behavior for all students. School Masses also encourage student participation and provide opportunities for leadership roles that are not always available to our young people during the Sunday Mass.
3. Our history – we are able to tell our story in all school activities and to teach our students their heritage openly and freely
4. Our daily display of our faith – the values that are taught our students are lived throughout the day as they interact with other students and adults; our students are given a moral framework for dealing with day to day issues. Young children learn values and morals by imitating the behavior s of adults.
5. Our academics and faith – Catholic schools offer rigorous academics to develop students’ intellect along with faith development. Students need an education that includes not only the facts of all academic subjects but a safe place for the growth and development of their faith.

I appreciate the sacrifice that you choose to make to send your children to us. Thank you. Our students, your children, are our reason for our existence.

SO YOU THINK YOUR CHILDREN ARE NOT LISTENING TO YOU:

Several teachers had informal discussions about New Year’s resolutions with their students upon their return from the holidays. Do you know the one resolution that was given and repeated by students in all grade levels? To lose weight! So yes, our children do listen to us, and yes they do say as we do, and yes they do act as we do!

REMINDERS:

* Monday, January 18th is a school holiday
* Wednesday, January 20th is a 1:45pm dismissal due to our Open House at 6:30pm
* Friday, February 5th child care ends at 5:00pm due to the parades
* Friday, February 12th is a 1:45pm dismissal with child care only until 4:00pm

PLACES TO BE SEEN:

* PK Parent/Teacher conferences Tuesday, January 19th
* Mass (5-8) Tuesday, January 19th 8:30am
* Open House Wednesday, January 20th 6:30pm
* Mass (1-4) Thursday, January 21st 8:30am
* Mass (5-8) Tuesday, January 26th 8:30am
* Mass (1-4) Thursday, January 28th 8:30am
* Catholic School Week Mass (PK-8) Tuesday, February 2nd
* Mass (5-8) Tuesday, February 9th 8:30am
* 3D Parent lunch Tuesday, February 9th
* 3F Parent lunch Wednesday, February 10th
* Mass (1-4) Thursday, February 11th 8:30am
* 3M Parent lunch Thursday, February 11th
* PK parade Friday, February 12th 12:30pm