Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School

November 20, 2008

Dear Parents,

I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well.  We have been seeing some strep, some high fevers, some stomach illness...so just be on the lookout.  It is just the start of the "flu" season, and getting those flu shots is an important, never to be overlooked, task!

This is a newsletter going on "hiatus" for a week, as next Thursday is Thanksgiving and we will be out of school beginning on Wednesday at 12:30...yes, that is an early dismissal day.   Please be prompt in picking up your children on this day.

When we return on Monday, December 1  we will be in our first week of Advent...preparation, literally and spiritually, for our Lord's coming.  It is a time marked by candles (3 purple, 1 rose) until its end on Christmas Eve.  The primary color of Advent is purple.  This is the color of penitence...to be made spiritually worthy of receiving the great gift of Jesus' birth.  The rose candle, lit during the third week of Advent, on Gaudete Sunday, symbolizes joy.  We take time this third week to reflect upon the pure joy that Mary must have felt as mother of Our Savior first coming into the world, but also our expectation and hope in his Second Coming at the end of the world.  The wreath itself  (circular form) symbolizes everlasting life. Okay...enough of the religion lesson for this week!  I do pray, though, that your family observes this season of our Church year...it is the first season of the Church year.

In our on-going efforts to bring Catholic Social Teaching to the forefront of our lives here at Saints Peter and Paul School, we are brainstorming ways in which we can go beyond the collection of canned food.  We have been successful at connecting with Casa Maria, the Catholic worker house, here in Tucson and are working to coordinate with them a "hands-on" experience of preparing lunches for the less fortunate that are served by Casa Maria.  We'll let you know if, how and when all of this might become reality!  In the meantime...we are offering canned food at our school Thanksgiving Mass on Wednesday, November 26 at 9:15.  All students are asked to participate in this canned food drive and we hope to bring wagonloads of canned items down the center aisle to be given to St. Vincent de Paul.  We are indeed fortunate, and let us show our gratefulness through sharing.

Are your children involved in too many outside activities?  A very wise teacher once told me, as a parent, that we should guide our kids into doing one activity outside of school at a time.  Let them learn that one thing well and do it well...too many ‘extra-curriculars' take away from their obligation of learning and "school" well!  I want to pass on this advice, because I know that there are some students who participate in several extra-curricular activities each week...some on the same week nights...and I can tell by looking at grades, effort, and the number of conference requests...that some children are not being as successful as they possibly could be.  I urge you to examine openly your children's school responsibilities and extra-curricular activities...and make school the priority.

We ask for your prayers of healing for our Mrs. de Rouen.  Mrs. de Rouen was hospitalized last week as she has been undergoing some discomfort and is currently undergoing some medical tests and procedures.  We pray for her recovery and her comfort...and her return to us in our resource tutorial program.

Parents...please check all the "lost and found" items in the circle...there are lunch bags, coats, jackets, sweatshirts.  Items marked with a name will remain...those unmarked will be cleaned and given to the less fortunate over the Thanksgiving weekend. 

Yes, the boys restroom in the main building has been under lock and key for the past couple of days.  We have noted that the condition of the boys restroom has become increasingly disrespected with paper towels wadded up in the sinks, floors, and toilets.  Plumbers were called to correct issues last week...So, in an effort to monitor usage, students have had to check out a key to the restroom...and yes, go in numbers on "bathroom breaks".  With certainty, the mess and unsanitary state of the boys restroom lies with the boys from 5th to 8th grade.  We will continue to monitor the situation...and I thank all male staff members for their assistance...not to mention our maintenance and janitorial staff!

Congratulations to Thomas Biaggi for winning the Storyworks "Tale of Despereaux" Contest!  This is a contest sponsored by Scholastic, Inc....Thomas, we are proud of you!

Attention Open Chess and Chess Mentors...Open Chess and Chess Mentors offer a variety of opportunities for all chess enthusiasts.  Our goal is to remain consistent with teaching and scheduling.  Open Chess and Chess Mentors will conclude their first session of the school year on Wednesday, November 19 and Thursday, November 20.  The second session begins on Wednesday, January 28th with the Open Chess Club and Thursday, January 29th with the Chess Mentors group.  Look for sign-up information for the two sessions next year.  Open Chess is limited to 16 spaces for each level:  beginning, intermediate, and advanced.  Also, we are in need of chess parents, grandparents, to help with the Open Chess Club on Wednesdays next year...January 2009.  Mrs. Siath, Mr. "B", and Mrs. Ratliff thank you!

Still having trouble with unfulfilled volunteer hours?  I am in need!  I'd like someone to act as a classroom aide in the third grade in the afternoons...I'd like someone to be my "bulletin board buddy"...and we need volunteers for track season...you need to be willing to be trained for a specialty area for track.....Call me, please...with your "yes, I can help!"

Thank you, thank you Parents Association for the great new chairs in our music room!  You have made our music teachers very happy!  Now, what to do with the old desks???  I have an idea, but I need to have the desks stored for a short period of time...can anyone help me out?

Congratulations to 2nd grader Emilia Quilantan for participating in Chess Match #2!  You  did great!!!

Don't forget to buy your scrip...which are actually gift cards!...and don't forget about the CTSO tax credit donation!

God's abundant blessings to you....

and Happy Thanksgiving,

Jean McKenzie, Ed.S.

Principal

November 20, 2008