January 19, 2012

Dear Parents,

Catholic Schools: Faith, Academics, Service

In just a few weeks, St. Anne School will join with nearly 7,000 Catholic Schools across the nation to celebrate who we are, what we do, and why we do it. The theme for this year’s celebration is shown above, and this week, I would just like to highlight the first part of that theme--Faith. Catholic Schools were first started in this country because of a need to pass on the Catholic Faith. In the beginning of the educational system in this country, public schools were able to teach some religious truths, but they were not the truths professed by Catholic Families. St. Elizabeth Seton and Bishop John Neuman both recognized a need for children and families to have a place where they could learn their Faith and practice it more fully. That reasoning has not changed in our own times. One of the main reasons Catholic Schools exist today is to assist you, the parents, in the practice of the Catholic Faith. It is not just the main teachings of our Faith that are passed on, but how to live them in one’s daily life--from cradle to grave! The children in our care are given the opportunity to pray and are encouraged to practice the virtues they learn about in their religious studies. So, as we prepare for this year’s celebration, let us take time to be grateful for the ability to have a Catholic School in our parish so that the Faith may be passed on from one generation to the next.

This week begins the second semester of this school year. It can be a time for the children to start over if the first semester did not go well. It can also be a time to continue to do well as new materials are introduced daily to students. Report cards will be coming home this Thursday in a new Brown Envelope. Hopefully, you made a New Year’s Resolution to check that envelope each time it comes home and return it to school with your child as soon as possible!

In this week’s Envelope you will find the following:

1. Report Cards--Please be sure to sign the envelope and return just the envelope to school.

2. Information on the Learning Fair for Grades 6,7, and 8

3. Information on the Young Authors’ Program for all grades--I strongly encourage you to have your youngsters get their imaginations in gear and write a short story. We have some very talented writers in our school and their stories are so interesting to read.

4. Climbing Higher Flyer--If extra help on study skills is needed, or tutoring, you will find this to be a very good program.

5. Dance Flyer for Jr. High Students

6. Permission Slip for Grades 3 and 5 only--This is their half semester reward for great work.

7. Six Flags Reading Program--Since students read for Book It!, that same materials can be used for this program. Please encourage your child to participate. Read and follow directions and you can help your child be a winner in many ways.

PRINCIPAL’S POINTS:

On Friday, January 20, we will have our annual Geography Bee. The Bee will begin at 1:00 P.M. and this year, to help the contestants overcome their nervousness, the audience will be in the Callahan Room, and the contestants in Church. We will use the new video system so all can see the contest as it develops and the youngsters may not be quite as nervous, having all those faces staring at them.

Our Valentine Parties, though several weeks away, will begin at 1:30 P.M. on February 14th, for those of you who are Room Parents. This year, I forgot to say anything about Christmas Treats, which could have come on January 6th. I don’t believe any class had a post Christmas Party, so hopefully, you have some funds to spend for Valentine’s Day.

While the information on the Learning Fair is enclosed for the Jr. High Students only, I have also enclosed some information for students in Grades K through 5. It is very useful if a student works on a Learning Fair Project starting in the early grades. Then, when getting into the Jr. High Grades, it is not as difficult to continue, but with more research and guidance in how to do a report paper. At the early grades, projects do not have to be as involved or intense as they are in the Jr. High, but it does give the student practice in putting together a project. The same goes for the Young Authors Program. Students can write very simple stories in their early grades, and they can see their own growth as they progress in their writing skills. I encourage all families to think about these projects and to encourage your child to also think about them

As part of our Catholic Schools Week Celebration, we will be having a Spirit Day on Monday, January 30th. Students will be allowed to wear any of the items in our new Spirit Wear collection. We are currently getting a new order ready and hope to have items here as soon as possible, so please come in or request an order blank if you would like some of these new items.

Our Awards Assembly will be held on January 27th after the 8:15 A.M. Mass. Awards will be given for the BUG Program, the Geography Bee, Book It!, Accelerated Reader and Honor Roll.

Please remember to get your Market Day Orders in and don’t forget to keep up your SCRIP Orders. Our Auction is coming fast, and there are great items on display at school as well as those special raffle items, too. Tickets are available and you will want to get your table together for a great night of fun.

Many thanks to all who have returned their Preregistration Forms. If yours has not yet been sent in, please try to return it as soon as possible. It is a great help as I work on the budget for the next year.

Last of all, thank you for your many prayers and concern for Sister Lorraine. Sister is now at home and doing well--just taking it easy and resting for awhile. Your prayers are deeply appreciated.

May God continue to bless us all as we work together to enrich the Faith Life of each student and family.

Sincerely,



Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.