March 2, 2016

Dear St. Katharine of Siena School Families,
          The journey through Lent continues with a focus on prayers, doing for others, sacrificing some, forgiving, and asking for forgiveness. We all have things we need to improve on regardless of age. The faculty and I  have continued using the Little Black Book for Lent. There are some real gems reflection wise in that book. I have extra copies if you would like one, just let me know. The rest of this blog is communicating items of school importance. Thanks for reading and staying in the loop.

Take care,

Bud

SKS Centennial     

The first SKS Centennial Meeting was held last Wednesday and plans are in the making for a
year-long series of events next year to celebrate SKS:100 Years! There was a energetic group of people: teachers, parents, at the meeting led by co-chairs Anne Condello and David Heacock.  Our school's legacy of  celebrating one hundred years of existence is a huge deal don't you think?  If you would like to help out please contact Anne Condello at school. Soon there will be a launching of a Centennial Sign Up Genius. Please consider getting involved.

                                                            Capital Campaign
We are officially two weeks into our Capital Campaign - Securing Our Future. If you have not received a phone call as yet , please expect a call soon from your homeroom captain. If you have any questions about anything regarding this please don't hesitate to call me. A brochure has been sent home with the oldest child in the school so please check backpacks. The brochure does a terrific job explaining everything that we do here for fundraising.
                                                 

Spiritual Life Advancement Team 

There is a Rosary Group forming for parents after the 8am Mass here on Wednesdays. For now it will be in church after the 8 am Mass. When the weather breaks it will be in the grotto. Mary is always ready to listen to our prayers and our grotto is sacred pray-ground. I know you are busy, but try to carve out a some time for yourself to pray.
  For more info contact Susan Schuller  at smschuller@hotmail.com

Family Life/Education Advancement Team 

Our Family Life /Education Advancement Team reports that our students on that committee (who represent our upper grades) want to be educated on three specific topics:

- Drug and Alcohol Education: Specifically they would like to hear from young adults who have gone through through addiction and how they can avoid the pitfalls.

- Social Media: They want to hear from someone who is knowledgeable from a  legal standpoint what consequences are to be faced when teenagers cross the line. 

- Suicide Prevention: Students want education on this subject. We realize this is a frightening topic in many ways for many families. We would not have an assembly with the students without first having a night with parents about this. 

The Home & School Board, Youth Ministry (Steph Twohig), and The Family Life /Education Advancement Team are pursuing professional speakers in all three areas.  We are looking to line up an assembly in the spring with one or possibly two of these topics. We will keep you posted on the details of this and communicate clearly what will be presented. In assemblies of any topic deemed sensitive, parents, as primary educators,  have the right to have their child opt out from the assembly. 

 Generation Life will be here to present their talk on Chastity to the 7th and 8th grade on March 22. The 7th & 8th grade girls will be together and the 7th & 8th grade boys will be together as well. The 6th grade presentation will be co-ed and focus solely on understanding your value as a child of God, seeking out good friends and role models, and the importance of being kind and respectful towards others.   

From Mr. T.'s Desk 

I told this true anecdote to the Capital Campaign Captains two weeks ago;

A certain primary grade SKS student approached me a few weeks back and the conversation went like this:

Student: "Mr. T. are you a teacher?

Mr.T.: Yes,  I still consider myself a teacher all the time." 

Student: "But do you still teach a class and have a classroom?

Mr. T.: No, I don't have a class like the other teachers, but I still like to think that I still teach....."

Student: "Well if you don't have classroom and don't teach a class, what do you actually do all day?"

Let's just say in the end  it was one of those moments that I was left speechless..... so funny, every day here is another adventure. 

SKS CYO 

A few weeks ago this CYO article was shared with many constituents within our parish but it was never officially shared within our school. It's a wonderful story of compassion and empathy displayed by many of our graduates from SKS who were playing a high school CYO game. Just in case you didn't see it I hope you will take a few minutes to read it. It's a reason to be proud of our graduates and families. Are there two more important values than compassion and empathy?

http://isscd.org/general-news/transcending-game-philadelphia-area-cyo-basketball-creates-unforgettable-night/​

                                                           All Catholic Festival Band                                                                    

Two student made All Catholic Festival Band from our school. Sophia Di Giovanni performed at a concert at Archbishop Wood  two weeks ago. Sophia Twohig will perform with the festival band students at the Kimmel Center on March 22nd. Congrats to both performers.

Home and School Board 

Next week you will receive information from the Home &School Board asking for parents to run for five positions that will be open for next fall.. Our Home & School Board is an integral part of our school community. If you are thinking about running for any position , then you should. Meetings are only once a month from September through June. You can help us!

March Calendar 

The month of March brings about a flurry of activities on the school calendar. Here are some updates with a reminder that all these events are on the school /parish calendars.

-  2/29 to 3/4: This week our students are taking the Terra Nova  Standardized Testing. We run a special schedule where testing is done in the morning.  Regular classes are held after testing  with abbreviated classes. Typically we get the TN  test results in mid to late May.  The 2nd trimester officially ends March 11th. Report cards will be given out on Monday and Tuesday  March 21 -22.

- Parish Retreat for Lent 6:15 in Parish Center with guest speaker: Megan Cokely and 7:30 Mass

- 3/4 to 3/5   24 Hours for Life: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in church

- 3/5  First Eucharist Retreat for Grade 3  8:30 am -12 pm Parish Center

- 3/8 Home & School Meeting (rescheduled from February) Sr. Pat Mc Cormack  7 PM in cafeteria

- 3/10  Spring Fashion Show @ Lisiter - This has always been a HUGE event for us and one of our main fundraisers for school. I hope many of our Moms & Friends will be able to attend. I heard the venue is really nice.

-  3/11 End 2nd Trimester, also St Paddy's Day Party: Blarney Bash in cafeteria for grades KG-4  6 to 8 pm

- 3/12 Confirmation Retreat for 6th grade in Parish center 8:30 am to 12 pm

- 3/13 Culture of Life Concert in church  4 pm - all are invited as the music will be outstanding.

- 3/14 begin 3rd Trimester  and  Begin GO RUN Program after school @ 3:15

- 3/16  School Mass by 3rd grade

- 3/17 Happy St. Patrick's Day Dress Down Day given by Mr. O' Tosti for wearing of the green!              The DD Day benefits alumnus, Meghan Jones, for her community service trip.

- 3/18 Living Stations performed by Class of 2016.    Dress rehearsal 1:15   7 pm Performance in Church

- 3/19 -20    Bake Sale after Masses for 8th Grade

- 3/21  World Down Syndrome Day, Report cards given out, Go Run 3:15

- 3/22 Confessions for grades 2 - 8 in church. Reports cards given out.
   Easter Break begins at 3 pm for students/ families. Generation Life presents to grades 6, 7, & 8.

- 3/23 Faculty Retreat at Malvern Retreat House

- 3/24 - 3/27 Holy Week Services in church

- 3/27 Happy Easter

- 3/29  Faculty in Service  - 9 to 3

- 3/30 Classes resume  Go Run 3:15

- 4/1  4th  Grade Field Trip to Crystal Cave

- 4/2 - 4/3   First Eucharist Masses offered

Is this a busy enough March into April ?

SKS Happenings 

The Class of 2012 and their parents had a grand reunion in the parish center. I can't even believe these kids are ready to graduate from high school and off to college next fall.  

How about these two? Sisters? Nope, but they sure look like it!  Third grader Brooke Miller poses with Rosemont student /teacher, Erin Kenny, who has been with us since January in Miss Panaro's class.  Last week, ten other aspiring teachers from Rosemont College  visited our school to watch our teachers in action. 

Winners of the auction for SKS Guys Night Out were: Steve Elliot, Rob Kendall, 

Jim Frohner and Reno deGennaro. We had a great night with an excellent turnout. If you missed it, we'll see you next time or come crash the Fashion Show!

Some of our winners from the famous Scouts' Pinewood Derby are above. Below are some of the cars. Mr. Gavin and his good friend, Jimmie Johnson, would be very proud.

       SKS 8th Grade Business Day

 Over $2800 will be donated to the Make A Wish Foundation thanks to the hard working  entrepreneurs of the Class of 2016.

Reading Olympics 

What's the fastest way to get smarter?  Read, Read and Read some more! The 5th graders here are getting ready for the upcoming Reading Olympics that our school will participate in with the Delaware County Intermediate Unit . Great job Mrs. Jill D'Agostino, her parent volunteers, and our students!

More Fantastic Reading News !

    

Students from Pope John Paul II High School including SKS Alumnus, Mike Shreiner (above) visited our KG-1 grade classes to read to our students.  Dr Seuss was the book theme - excellent choice!