October 8, 2013
Dear Parents and Students:
I hope you had an enjoyable long weekend. Friday was kind of wild. The weather put a damper on our celebration of the Feast of St. Francis. One thing that we know about St. Francis is that he loved nature and we were treated to a display of nature’s power on Friday. So, maybe that was an appropriate celebration for St. Francis. We were still able to celebrate Mass with some of the Sisters to recognize their Feast Day. SAY will meet the Sisters at 5:45 PM at Marian Residence on Wednesday for a Communion Service followed by Ice Cream to help celebrate their Feast Day.
For future reference, if school is cancelled, you will receive a call from School Reach letting you know. Remember, School Reach is voice activated, so you won’t get the message unless you say, ‘Hello.’ I will always try to call off school before 6:30 A.M. if possible. I realize that working parents have to make arrangements for their children. I never want you to put yourself or your children in danger. If you think the weather is too bad to get out, stay home.
The teachers went to North Platte for the Diocesan meetings yesterday. The main speakers talked to us about forms of bullying and how to identify targets and bullies. One of the main ways to end bullying is by empowering the 85% of students that are bystanders to be upstanders. We need them to intervene and stand-up for the target.
Examples were also given on how to empower the target to stand up for themselves. I found the session helpful and I came away with some good ideas. In the afternoon we attended sessions on teaching strategies and ideas. It was a beneficial trip.
Wreath sales are underway. If you have not ordered your wreaths, call school, 762-2315, or get in touch with any St. Agnes student, to place your order. Wreath sales end October 21.
Friday is the Homecoming Parade at 2 PM. The teachers will take their students to the parade return to school for dismissal at 3:20. If you choose to pick up your child early to take them to the parade with you, please send a note, so the teacher is informed. Do not pick up your child at the parade. It’s hard for the teachers to keep track of their students.
Monday and Tuesday, October 14 and 15, we will have the Fall Book Fair. From 5-7 that day we will host an Open House. This is your chance to see your child’s classroom and to take your child to the Book Fair. Remember, this is Open House and not Parent/Teacher Conferences. Come in and look around. Let your child show you their classrooms. Parents’ Inc. will be selling T-shirts in the gym. Parent’s Inc. will also be collecting dues, which are $10. Only about half the parents have paid their dues.
Help is needed in the lunchroom on Thursdays and Fridays. This is the seventh grade parents’ month to help but anyone can volunteer. Seventh grade parents please call in and sign up for a couple of days to help.
The preschool is in need of two sets of speakers for their computers If someone has some they’d like to donate, please call Deb Salomon. Thanks!
The Fourth grade will be going to the Mammoth Site on Tuesday, October 15 . Permission slips will be coming home.If any parents would like to visit with me for conferences, please call school and set up a time before October 23. I will be out of town October 24 – 28 for some much needed Grandma time.
In January (LB)14 will be on the floor of the State Senate for a vote. Call or write now!Legislative Bill (LB) 14, the Elementary and Secondary Educational Opportunity Act, would allow individuals, married couples, and businesses to claim a state income tax for 60% of their donations to Scholarship-Granting Organizations to help children attend privately-operated elementary and secondary schools in Nebraska. The goal of this bill is to provide a tax incentive to encourage donations to qualified
Scholarship-Granting Organizations, creating a new source of scholarship resources to help limited-income families to afford the cost of private-school tuition. Please call or e-mail members of the Revenue Committee and urge them to advance LB 14 to General File for debate. Revenue Committee members include Galen Hadley, Thomas Hansen, Burke Harr, Charlie Janssen, Beau McCoy, Pete Pirsch, Paul Schumacher, Kate Sullivan.
Teresa Parker, Principal
Alliance St. Agnes Academy