This Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, is known as Palm Sunday. It is the beginning of Holy Week. It celebrates Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. Great crowds of people thronged the streets waving palm branches to welcome Him. The people shouted "Hosanna" and laid their cloaks and palm branches from the nearby trees in His path. As we mentioned last week, as part of our preparation for the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, students in grades 3-8 will receive the sacrament of Reconciliation on Monday, March 25th.
The 7th graders will present a lenten prayer service on Thursday, March 28th at 11:00am in the church. Following the prayer service, we will present the 3rd quarter Academic Awards. Please join us if you can.
As a reminder, Thursday, March 28th is a minimum day for all Preschool-8th graders and the beginning of Easter Vacation. Preschool will dismiss at 12 noon, K-3 at 12:15pm and 4-8 at 12:30pm. There will still be extended care until 6pm that day for K-8 students. Street parking will be limited because of the early dismissal schedule. The school yard will be open between 11am-noon to facilitate the pick up of Preschool students.
Develop Africa: The 7th graders continue to accept donations for their Lenten Service Project. Please help the 7th graders honor their commitment to help children, like themselves. So far, $350 and over 350 various school supplies have been donated. Donations should be given to the classroom teacher and will be collected until Monday, March 25th. As an added bonus, the class who donates the most school supplies will have free dress on Thursday, March 28th. If you would like to send a monetary donation to help purchase more supplies, please put it in an envelope marked ‘DEVELOP AFRICA’.
Report Cards: This Friday marks the end of the third quarter. Report cards will be going home next Wednesday, March 27th. Please check with the office to make sure your accounts, both tuition and extended care, are up to date so that you may receive your child’s report card.
Re-registration: The deadline to complete re-registration online has passed. If you still have not re-registered, please do so by the end of this week if you wish us to save a spot for your child. We have had several families looking for available spots for next year, and we would like to let them know as soon as possible if there is room for them. Also don’t forget, the re-registration fee of $325 per child is due no later than Wednesday, March 27th.
Save the Date: Please save the evening of Thursday, April 18th at 6:30pm for a mandatory parent meeting for all families of kindergarteners through 7th grade. Students will not be allowed to attend this meeting. We will offer free babysitting for those unable to make other arrangements. More details will be provided as we get closer to the date.
See's Candies: A reminder that the deadline for ordering is tomorrow, Thursday, March 21st. Candy orders will be available on March 27th just in time for Easter. Complete and return the form you previously received. Extra forms are available from the office.
Books to Bravo: The SF Opera Guild will be here again on Monday, for their ongoing preparation of the sixth grade’s Books to Bravo project. The premier production of the opera they have created will be performed in Carroll Hall at 1:10 on Monday, April 29th. Mark your calendars!
Field Trips: More field trips are under way! Our 7th graders continue to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation by attending an all day retreat at Point Bonita on Friday, April 12th. Students in third grade will be receiving a permission slip for an upcoming field trip to the Academy of Sciences on April 16th. Also visiting the Academy of Sciences on April 17th, are the preschoolers. Look for that permission slip. Please pay attention to the due dates on all those forms. Late permission slips will NOT be accepted.
Pizza/Hotdog: Check your envelopes for the April/May pizza sale slip and the hotdog sale slip. Please read them and follow the directions on the forms. The due date for those to be returned is next Wednesday, March 27th. Remember, this is the only opportunity you have to order these special lunch and late orders will not be accepted.
Paper Donations: One way we save money is by using recycled paper, paper printed only on one side. So many of you are kind enough to collect it at your place of business and bring it to us on a regular basis. Your generous donation of new and recycled paper is very much appreciated. Please keep these donations coming!
Coaches Appreciation Dinner: The Athletic Board is holding their Coaches Appreciation Dinner on Friday, April 12th. This delectable dinner, prepared by Chef Stamatis (dad of our own 5th grade teacher, Kelly Stamatis) will be the highlight of the evening to thank-you for all of your efforts during this last school year. Please remember to RSVP here if you are planning to attend. Spouses and significant others are also invited.
Pi Day: We have the results of the Pi Day Memorization Contest. In 5th Grade, Samantha Panelo memorized 83 digits and just edged out Isabella Triunfo and Patty Palomares who both had 82 digits. In 6th Grade, Anthony Martinez also won with 83 digits. In 8th Grade, Sydney Gamboa won with an even 100 digits. Lastly, in 7th Grade, Andre Corrales kept going and going and finally stopped at 143 digits. The winners of the contest will all receive a Pi tee shirt, and perhaps more importantly, the winners all got a whole pie last Friday afternoon that they shared with friends. Congratulations to all our Pi day competitors!
Viva Opera: The Museo ItaloAmericano visited the 1st through 8th grade students today for their presentation of Viva Opera. They taught the students about the history of opera and introduced them to composers such as Mozart, Verdi, and Puccini. Students also learned about the different voices in opera; alto, tenor, soprano and bass. What an enriching environment your children enjoy!
Shoparoo: This week we received a $300 check from Shoparoo for coming in 2nd in their February contest. Now we have our eye on the $500 grand prize for their March Madness contest. We’ve made it through to round two and go up against Sam V. Curtis Elementary in Rialto, California, this week. Check out Shoparoo’s blog here for the updated results. Keep snapping those receipts!
Scrip Requirement: As a reminder, all families are required to generate at least $100 profit by participating in the electronic scrip programs authorized by the school. Scrip purchases through April 30th will continue to be credited to your account. At the end of this period, families who have not reached the $100 profit will receive a statement with their balance still owed. Families who have not participated in the scrip program and did not buyout by the February deadline will incur the late buyout fee of $150.
Parking: We all need to share the valuable and limited parking spaces around the school and church. We ask that you be respectful and courteous to our neighbors at the Golf Club, St. Thomas More Church and Alma Via when parking. Pay attention, and show respect to the traffic patrol during drop off and pick up to ensure the safety of all our children.
Yesterday our new Pope, Francis, was officially installed. Archbishop Cordileone has granted us a school holiday in celebration of the election and installation of Pope Francis. We have chosen to take Friday, May 24th, making Memorial Day weekend a four-day weekend. Please continue to keep Pope Francis in your prayers.
Finally, congratulations to our 8th graders who are heading off to high school next year. Students have been lucky enough to be accepted into several schools to which they applied. Keeping in mind that this class only has 26 students, the following are the schools to which students were accepted: Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory (8), St. Ignatius Preparatory (8), Mercy San Francisco (4), Mercy Burlingame (6), Archbishop Riordan High School (5), Junipero Serra High School (2), Immaculate Conception Academy (1), and several other local public schools. We are all so proud of our soon-to-be graduates!
Sincerely,
Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal |
