Dear Parents,

“I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.”   Michael J. Fox

As a school that has for its motto or brand, “Where Excellence Begins”, it is easy to agree with the quote from this famous actor.  At St. Anne School, the pursuit of excellence begins in our preschool classes and continues all the way up the grades. As far as the pursuit of perfection goes, that is a part of our business, too. It is not just in our religion classes that we talk about how God wants us to seek perfection, but in the actions and activities of each day, this quest to be more Godlike is stressed and encouraged.  In the Top Ten Lists of many of the classes, it was encouraging to see that so many listed the learning of their Religion and the ability to talk about God in their school. As this week of celebration goes on, we can be most grateful for our school and the values being shared each day of the year.

Before proceeding to what is in this week’s envelope, I would like to thank all the parents and the students who participated in any way at our Catholic Schools Week Masses this past weekend. All of the children did a wonderful job and it was great to have so many participate. I simply called for volunteers and they all came forward, so thank you very much! I would also like to thank Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Crisham for all the extra baking they did for our breakfast. Many parishioners enjoyed the variety of items that were available.

In this envelope you will find the following:

1. SCRIP Totals for families—Please remember that you are asked to reach your goal by MARCH 31^ST.                                                                                                                                                  

2. Box Tops Collection Sheet—At our Home and School Meeting, it was announced that St. Anne School is in 4^th Place for having the most box tops collected. We plan on doing a big spring drive, but you may want to collect and save now. If we make first place, it’s a $25,000 win! Wouldn’t that be awesome?

3. Hoops for Heart Permission Slip—This is our only outside fundraiser for Jr. High, so please be generous. If you know of someone with heart disease, encourage your youngster to participate in that person’s honor.

4. Jr. High Dance Permission Form—your youngster must present this at the dance and we only have enough for each one, so guard it carefully.

5. Educational Outfitter’s Flyer—Our uniform company is having an inventory sale from Thursday, Jan. 31^st to Saturday, Feb. 2^nd. Please see the flyer for additional details.

A FEW NEW SPINS:

Our School Spelling Bee will be held on Monday, February 4^th, at 1:30 PM. All families are invited to join us for this event and test your spelling skills.

With our Auction quickly approaching, those who have signed to attend are reminded to send in their ticket money.  Also, families who have not sold their 50/50 tickets should have received a note/envelope on Tuesday from the chairperson and you are asked to return your stubs and money as soon as possible. Please note, stubs and money should be returned—not unsold tickets. These were sent out way back in November and every family is asked to do their part in selling these.

Please be sure to return the permission slip for the All Schools Mass at Newman this coming Friday, February 1^st. These forms were sent out on Monday of this week. There may be room on buses if some parents would like to assist with chaperoning, and after returning to school, students will be dismissed.  We are very pleased to announce that three of the five persons being inducted into Newman’s Academic Hall of Fame at the Mass are former graduates of St. Anne School. We are very proud of the accomplishments of these young ladies.

Al Morrison Baseball flyers are available in the school office for any students. Registration is on February 9^th, 2013.

Just one last reminder that Thursday of this week is a Spirit Day for all students. They may wear St. Anne School Spirit Wear or the spirit wear of their favorite sports team. No pajamas or pajama type wear though, please!  Classes are also having a reading time and pillows are an option. There will be other surprises for the students so be sure your youngster is in school—unless illness keeps them home!

May God reward and bless you for your support of our Catholic School!

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.

January 24, 2013                                                                                            

Dear Parents,

            “Go, teach all nations…” Matthew’ s Gospel

As Catholic Schools Week approaches, there are many quotes about education that could be used to start this letter. John Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, Booker T. Washington and many others wrote or spoke about the importance of education. But it was Jesus who gave the command to the apostles to go and teach—not just reading, writing and arithmetic, but all that He had shared with the people while on this earth. And while I can’t be sure Jesus ever envisioned today’s Catholic School System, He surely was the one who inspired people like Mother Seton, John Neumann, John de La Salle and many others to form and organize this system which reaches many throughout our world today. Catholic Schools are known for raising the standard and for including the religious aspect in the various subject areas that are taught as well as for the teaching of the Faith. For many of you, this latter point is one of the reasons you choose to send your children to a Catholic School. It appeared in many of the Top Ten Lists that you sent in as your “Homework Assignment.” Many thanks to all who took the time to think about your reasons and to put your thoughts in writing.  We ask the Lord’s blessing during this Catholic Schools Week and beyond as we continue to follow the command of Jesus to go and teach.

It is our hope that you will help us kick off the week by attending our simplified breakfast this year. No pancakes and sausage, but a variety of cakes, muffins, donuts, bagels, cinnamon rolls, cheese and jellies, fruit, and juices will be available and it is all free to all comers as our way of saying Thank You to you and our parishioners for the support given us in so many ways. Our classrooms will be open and you are invited to walk around and read some of the many reasons people choose St. Anne School. You will also want to read the Top Ten reasons the children feel this is a great place to learn.  What interesting ideas they have! We could use a few helpers to serve coffee and the items, so if you are interested in helping, just call the office and tell us when you can assist with the serving.

This week’s envelope contains the following:

1. Report Cards for the Second Quarter

2. Home and School Minutes—Our meeting is this evening at 6:00 PM. Two Auction Tickets will be given away at this meeting. Do try to attend. Child Care will be available.

3. Lunch Menu and Helper Sheet

4. 50/50 Reminder Sheet

5. Auction Worker Sheets

6. Sweetheart Dance Flyer—This is only in the envelopes of Girls, and DADS, please note--You can bring as many daughters as you wish for the $18.00 Fee. So, show your daughters what a sweetheart they are to you and what a sweetheart of a DAD you are! Tickets are available in our school office.

7. Flyer with Catholic Schools Week Activities

A FEW NEW SPINS:

Many Jr. High Parents are wondering about Confirmation Information. Confirmation will take place at St. Anne Parish on April 7^th. More information will be coming closer to that event, but you should have received some information from your Jr. High Student regarding sponsors and the picking of a saint’s name. If not, please check with your youngster as this was passed out to them.

First Reconciliation will take place this Saturday, January 26th. Children are asked to be at school by 9:45 AM and hopefully, Father and all will be well and this special event will take place.

 Our Auction is quickly approaching and tickets are available in the school office. Tables are filling up so be sure to tell your friends to come in and get their $30.00 tickets soon.

Many thanks to all who sent back their Intent to Return Form. This is a great help to setting the budget for next year. Please remember that if you know of anyone ready for Kindergarten or Preschool, be sure to invite them to our school for the Open House and breakfast on Sunday. We are planning an evening Open House in February also.

You may note that one of our Catholic Schools Week activities involves a collection of items for the Pads Shelter, for Gianna’s House, and for the Food Pantry. For Gianna’s House we are not asking for new baby clothes, but if you have gently used items that you no longer need or plan to need, or coupons for diapers, or would like to donate some diapers, etc., these would be cheerfully accepted. Gianna’s House will gratefully accept anything you wish to donate. For the Pads Shelter, we are asking for hotel size soaps, toothpaste etc.  and for the Food  Pantry, any type of food item. PLEASE UNDERSTAND—YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DONATE TO ALL THREE OF THESE, JUST CHOOSE THE ONE YOU PREFER, and these donations can be made all next week.

Finally, just a reminder that the rosary is prayed after school each Thursday and all are welcome to come and join in prayer for life. It was so good to see our children pray together on Tuesday and offer over 5000 prayers to bring about change in our country. It only takes about 15 minutes to say the Rosary and it is such a powerful prayer. Please try to take some time to come in and bring your children for this special time.

May this year’s celebration of Catholic Schools Week be one of the best yet as we showcase our efforts to go and teach the Good News!

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.

January 16, 2013                                                                    

Dear Parents,

“The Catholic School, far more than any other, must be a community whose aim is the transmission of values for living.”

The Catholic School, 1977, #53 (Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education)

This quote ties in very well with the reasons many of you have stated in your Top Ten Lists submitted for our own Catholic Schools Week Celebration. It has been very interesting to see the many reasons given and we are grateful to all who have turned in these lists thus far. You still have some time to turn yours in and I hope every family will do so. In today’s world it is very important that the values you hold as a family be reinforced by those who are teaching your children. You, as parents, are the first educators of your children. This is the teaching of the Catholic Church and at the baptism of your child, this is reinforced as you promise to raise this child in the Catholic Faith. As teachers, part of our task is to assist you in this important role, as well as to advance the academic, social, and physical education of your child. To fulfill this aim is the main reason for our being here at St. Anne School, and we look forward to celebrating with you in this coming Catholic Schools Week.

As part of the celebration for Catholic Schools Week, the Rockford Diocese would like to honor the teachers of our Catholic Schools and you can be a part of that program. You will find a form enclosed asking you to nominate an outstanding Educator. St. Anne School has many outstanding educators and you are encouraged to use this form, make as many copies as needed and send it in to the Observer by January 27^th, 2013. I hope many families will take advantage of this opportunity.  Next week’s Envelope will have a detailed listing of all the activities taking place at our school for this special week.

This week’s envelope also contains the following:

1. Intent to Return Form—As we prepare to budget for the 2013-2014 School Year, it helps to know how many students we will have. Please fill out this form and return it to school as soon as possible. If you know of Kindergarten or Preschool children who are looking for a great education, please list their name also and if they come to our school, you will receive credit via your tuition.

2. Climbing Higher Flyer—This service is available for those needing assistance with study skills in various areas.

3. Flyer on an after school program offered at Sauk Valley College—You must preregister if you want your child to participate in this program.

4. Market Day Flyers

5. Skating Ticket

A FEW NEW SPINS:

Congratulations to David Swegle of Grade 6, winner of our School Geography Bee and to Justin Sherman of Grade 8 who came in second. We also want to congratulate the contestants from Grades 4 through 8 who also participated as representatives of their class: Brady Partington and Gavin Crowson of Grade 4, Garrett Helfrich and Jaxson Schabacker of Grade 5, Katherine Crisham of Grade 6, Kaitlyn Accardi and Jason Rugh of Grade 7, and Ellie Provo of Grade 8. The questions were challenging and we wish David well as he prepares to take the written test.

Please remember that this Friday there is early dismissal at St. Anne School at 11:00 AM. Our teachers will be working in the afternoon as we wind up this first semester.  

Our School Auction is quickly approaching. Teachers are in the process of checking with you about their class baskets, and a great many items have come through this office for this event. Tickets are now available so please come and purchase your tables before all the good ones are taken. All families are also reminded to please send in your 50/50 ticket money. We would really like a big “pot” but that only happens if the tickets get sold!

One last reminder—if you have not sent in your Top Ten List, please try to do so as soon as possible. This is a part of our Catholic Schools Week Planning and it would be great to have a response from every family.

As the Church has now moved into Ordinary Time, let us not forget that each day is not just an ordinary day, but also an extraordinary gift from our God, who loves us so very much! Celebrate each day!  To help you do that, a book of family prayers is enclosed for each family. May it draw you and your family closer to God in this Year of Faith!

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.

January 9, 2013                                                                                  

Dear Parents,

Having just enjoyed our Christmas Program last night, it is good to remember that the Christmas Season is not over yet. This year it extends until Sunday, January 13^th, the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord.  Though the baptism of Jesus was very different from ours, this feast should serve as a reminder to us of our own Baptism and be a source of grace to renew us in our Faith, especially in this Year of Faith. In this day and age, our Faith needs to be made visible to our children and those around us  more than ever so that the message of God’s Love, celebrated in the Christmas Season, continues to resound to others, even after all the decorations and programs are put away. Perhaps among our New Year’s resolutions, there could be one that relates directly to a way to make one’s Faith Life more vibrant in this New Year.

A new year brings new items in the Brown Envelope, so here’s a List:

1. Statements—Just like the businesses, St. Anne School has a January bill for you. Your statement is enclosed for this month and you are asked to see if your account is up to date. What this means is that tuition should be paid up to and including the month of January. That goes for all on a monthly plan, a quarterly plan, or a semester plan. Please put us in your “bill stack” and make us one of your regular payments!

2. The Dixon Elks Lodge is sponsoring a free orthopedic diagnostic clinic for children on Thursday, January 24^th, 2013. A flyer with more information is enclosed.

3. Our School Auction is quickly approaching. Several weeks ago, families received 50/50 tickets and we need to have the funds turned in as soon as possible. It helps to sell more tickets if the prize total can be published so please turn in your stubs as soon as possible.  You can send money back in the Brown Envelope or put it in the DROP BOX just outside the Teachers’ Lounge. Also, if you are offering a service or something for the auction, please send it in or contact the Auction Chairpersons as soon as possible.  Auction Tickets are available in the School Office @ $30.00 each. In our efforts to go green, paper tickets will only be issued if absolutely necessary.

4. The Six Flags Reading Log is included in this envelope. This program encourages your children to read non-school related material for six hours over a period of several weeks. This can include newspapers, comic books, picture books (for the younger crowd) and all other sorts of reading materials. Just keep track and return your child’s log for a free ticket to the Six Flags Amusement Park. All of our students should be able to reach this goal, based on the books they take out of our school library each week. Please encourage your child to participate—it’s a great way to get a free pass to a good time in the summer!

5. Milk for the second semester is due by January 22, 2013. The cost for Kindergarten is  $43.00 and for Grades 1-8,  $21.25.   If your child drinks more than one milk, please include that in your cost.

6. Permission Form for Grade 8 to Newman High School

A FEW NEW SPINS:

The Student Council is sponsoring its first Bake Sale of this New Year on Thursday, January 10^th. There will be some raffle items also and everything will be 25c. Thursday will also be the day that students who have had no tardies in K-2, one/no homework notices in Grades 3-5, and no missing or late assignments or uniform violations in the Jr. High can have a Jeans Day. Uniform shirts need not be worn.

Please keep our Second Graders in your prayers this weekend as they will be celebrating their First Reconciliation on Saturday Morning at 10:00 A.M. Students should be in school by 9:45 A.M. and families can go directly to the Church.

In preparation for Catholic Schools Week, you are asked to do a little homework. You will find a paper asking each family to list the top 10 reasons you send your children to St. Anne School. This assignment is due January 18^th. Now is your chance to show your children the importance of a Homework Assignment—Notices may be sent home! We really want to hear from you, so get your Top 10 List in as soon as possible.

Please remember that St. Anne School will have early dismissal at 11:00 on January 18^th. No lunch that day, no Aftercare and no bus service at the end of the day to Oregon.

Parents are reminded to once again check out the Dress Code for our School. Fashion Boots are not to be worn during the school day. Students can wear boots for the snowy weather, but these must be taken off during the day and regular shoes must be worn. Also, the socks students are wearing are not ankle length in many cases and you are asked to please comply with our Dress Code regulations.

May God bless you and your family abundantly throughout this New Year!

Sincerely,

Sister Marcianne, S.S.N.D.