Thursday Newsletter
January 5, 2012FROM THE DESK OF MS. HESED
Happy New Year
Tuesday was a bit of a shock for everyone, I think. But, we seem to be settling in nicely to the second half of our school year. Coming back after a long break is often hardest on the youngest and the oldest – the little ones miss their families, the big ones miss being in their PJs until noon.
Our eighth graders got the biggest shock, their 2nd quarter grades are due on Monday so that their report cards can be sent off to the Catholic high schools of their choice. The 2nd quarter report card is the final piece of information upon which our Catholic high schools will make their choices for their 2012-2013 ninth grade classes. Please offer a prayer or two that the high school selections will be the ones that lead each of our eighth graders to success over the next four years in their education.
The Cows are Coming Home!
As you may remember I explained in an earlier Thursday Newsletter about the concentrated efforts to fully understand and manage our steadily increasing enrollment. Two committees have been hard at work studying the past, examining the present and planning for the future. Given our current enrollment, our Baptisms over the past five years and the many, many calls of interest in our school, we are confident that we will need one more classroom next year in order to accommodate our enrollment and that the trend in growth will not stop for the next three to five years. Thanks to the efforts of the Capacity Committee, who directed the focus groups and spent hours considering different possibilities for expanding our physical plant, and the efforts of the Executive Board for School Accommodation, who researched and studied the population trends and our current finances, a significant decision has been made for next year. We will close down our current computer lab used by every SMOS student allowing that room to become our necessary other classroom. The committees continue to meet because more long term decisions need to be made carefully within our mission as an educating community.
“But what about technology?” you cry, “It is, after all, the 21st century!” A couple of COWs ought to do it! The decision has been made to purchase two mobile laptop labs, often called COWs or “computers on wheels.” One of the COWs will live on the Jr. High floor giving those students easy and instant access to technology. No longer will they have to trek across to the other building and up the stairs losing at least 10 minutes in travel and learning time. No longer will they only have access to computers during their scheduled computer lab time. Their access to technology will increase enormously. The other COW will take up residence on the top floor of the west/old building for use primarily by 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. They will have to give up their NeoSmarts (mini-laptops with limited word processing and math capabilities) as the Neos will move to the 1st and 2nd grade floor increasing their access to word processing, typing skills and math facts. Preschool through 2nd graders will continue to use their classroom computers for access to the Internet, however, their classroom computers will be better because we will trade out our oldest classroom computers with those from the computer lab. The decision to purchase the COWs is not perfect for everyone, but it will be fabulous for many blasting our 3rd through 8th graders into 21st century learning.
Although expensive – I mean EXPENSIVE – it is less costly than architectural changes or housing purchases made in haste. It will be a huge hit to our carefully crafted budget. Our grant writing committee is already hard at work looking for and writing up possible grant requests. Our development committee has dedicated themselves to re-designing our Annual Giving Campaign with COWs in mind. And, some of our very dedicated school parents are busy thinking up ways to increase funds via painless fundraising. For example, you may have noticed that our SHOPS push just before Christmas was greater than ever. Today your child will bring home a baggie for the sole purpose of collecting those box tops that appear on so many items that we already purchase.
Over the course of last year, our school parents and parish families and grandparents and neighbors etc. brought in $1,179.20 just from clipping those Box Tops for Education. And that, was with our casually reminding parents now and again. The Box Tops for Education are worth 10 cents each – they add up quickly. If your child does not hand you the baggie today upon arriving home from school, please root through the backpack (scary, I know) and find that baggie. Join us for some painless fundraising; help us buy a COW!
What’s in Store for January?
We’re ushering another one of those vibrant months.
- Jan. 12, Thursday: Your oldest child will bring home the registration form for the 2012-2013 school year. I know, I can’t believe it myself, but here it is time to be thinking about next school year. I am still warming up to this school year! We offer registration first to our current families for the children who are already in school and any siblings who may be attending next year.
- Jan. 13, Friday: there will be no school for the children; the teachers will work together planning for the second semester, discussing curriculum and reflecting on our ministry as educators.
- Jan. 16, Monday: Martin Luther King Jr. and another holiday from school allowing (causing?) our school families a 4 day weekend. If you’re not leaving town, please consider stopping by the school cafeteria between 3:00 and 7:00 to participate in the parish sponsored blood drive. Your child has a flier with more information in his or her backpack today.
- Jan. 20, Friday: Pizza lunch (YEAH!) and 4th grade parent lunch (super YEAH!). It’s also marks the end of the 2nd quarter and officially puts us at the half way mark for this school year. Report cards will be published on Fast Direct on January 27 for all students at all grade levels. This is the first report card for our kindergartners and preschoolers – a benchmark day for them.
- JANUARY 21ST: Our PTA sponsored MOTHER/SON EVENT especially designed to cater both to our moms and to our boys. This is one of those not-to-be missed events.
- Jan. 29, Sunday: Open House – another one of those huge events. We hope to welcome somewhere between 75 and 100 families into our school to see our classrooms, visit with teachers and “get a feel” for what we do so very well at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish School. Many of these families have already toured the school while the children are here to “get that feel,” others will tour over the course of the next month or so. We cannot begin to invite new families into our SMOS learning community until we know which of our current families intend to return, and with how many children, we always hope to serve our current families first. However, from the moment of Open House, these new families are anxious to hear whether or not we have space for them which takes us back up to the first bulleted statement concerning registration for current families. Please begin to think now about your wants and needs for your children for the next school year.
Other information and announcements…
Trivia Night – please mark your calendar for February 11th…your child is bringing home the registration flyer today!
SHOPS - As mentioned above, the SHOPS program certainly did not end at Christmas. Please continue to purchase SHOPS cards for all of your needs, groceries, gas, prescriptions…etc. For anyone with an i-Pod as a gift this Christmas, please note that we are now carrying i-Tunes cards as well. This is such a super simple way to help out our school with absolutely no cost to you!!!
The following is a list of all the “in stock” items that we have, just let us know what you need and your order will be sent home.
Child’s grade:____________(to send home)
Starbucks ______$10.00 i-Tunes _______ $15
Papa John’s Pizza ______$10.00 Shop and Save _______$25.00
Walgreens ______$25.00 Shop and Save _______$100.00
Panera – Bread Co. _____$10.00 Dierbergs ______$25.00
Target ______$25.00 Dierbergs ______$100.00
Target _____$100.00 Home Depot ______$25.00
BP Gasoline ______$50.00
Lowe’s ______$25.00 Shell Gasoline ______$25.00
Athletic Association News
- Movie Night -SMOS Athletic Association is pleased to announce our 2nd movie night at the gym on Saturday, January 14th, 2012. A $5 bag of popcorn will get you in the door, there will be $0.50 refills and other concessions will be available for 2 feature length movies. Presented on a huge 220" screen brought to you by Frontyard Features: 6:00 Kungfu Panda 2 (PG) and at 8:00 Harry Potter-Deathly Hallows Part 2 (PG-13). Hang with your friends and bring a pillow, sleeping bag or bean bag to lounge on.
Parents are welcome to stay, but not required. A signup sheet with contact information is available for younger viewers.
- Basketball Camps - The Athletic Association will be holding several FREE 1st and 2nd Grade Boys and Girls Basketball Mini-Camps on Sundays at the school gym from 12:00 – 1:00, January 7th – March 4th. We have some great coaches who will teach the kids basic basketball skills. Bring a basketball if you have one or there will be some available at the gym.
- Girls Lacrosse Skills Clinic - SMOS Athletic Association will be sponsoring a series of lacrosse skills/development sessions for GIRLS currently in grades 4th - 8th.
The program will be held Wednesdays, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the St. Margaret of Scotland gym. The first night will be Jan 4, 2012. Tentatively, the program will run through January 25, 2012. Contact Craig Andrews if you are interested or have questions: andrewsc@charter.net
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