ST. MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER

October 2008

Issue 2

“Hand in Hand, Together, We are One in Christ.”

ST. MARY SCHOOL MAGAZINE SALE A HUGE SUCCESS!  Once again the annual St. Mary School Magazine Drive has come to an end.  We are happy to report that it was a very successful two weeks of sales.  Our first turn in day, September 10^th, showed a total of $16,195.99 in sales.  Ms. Hoisington’s class was the top selling class with a total of $1,268.00.  They will receive a pizza party.  September 17^th was our second turn in day with a total of $16,731.81.  Mrs. Martineau’s class was the top selling class for this day with a total of $1,553.00.  They will also receive a pizza party.  Our total sales to date are $34,144.30.  The Top Seller Overall was Mark.  His prize was a choice of $100.00 or 5 tickets to Kalahari Water Resort.  Remember you can continue to order magazines online all year with our school still receiving 40% of the profits: 1) Go to www.gafundraising.com; 2) Go to “Enter online store”; 3) Enter our school ID# 652800.  We thank all of you who supported this fundraiser.

REMINDERS:                      

PLEASE REMEMBER CAR RIDERS ARE NOT TO BE DROPPED OFF BEFORE 7:25 a.m.  This is for the safety of the children.  Supervision is not available before that time.  Also, please remember there is a 5 mph zone in the school parking lot.  We have many children being dropped off and we want to keep them safe.

MARKET DAY PICKUP is Wednesday, October 1^st, from 5:15-6:15 p.m. in the Weaver Center.  Thank you for your continuing support.

THERE WILL BE AN EARLY DISMISSAL at 1:00 on Thursday, October 9^th and NO SCHOOL on Friday, October 17, 2008, due to a Teacher In-Service Day.  (We WILL be in school on Friday, October 10^th).

PICTURE DAY!!  Class pictures and Group pictures will be taken on October 16^th.  Individual Picture Retakes will be taken on Wednesday, November 12^th. 

PTU will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 15^th, at 7:00 p.m. in Farrell Hall.  Mrs. Konicki will be conducting the first Parent Info Series – sharing and discussing our IOWA and Off-Year Proficiency test scores for 2008 (comparing our scores from 2007 to 2008; showing how we compare to other schools in the Eastern Region of the Diocese, etc.). All are welcome!

THE GRADING PERIOD will end on Friday, October 24^th.  REPORT CARDS will be sent home with the students on Friday, October 31^st.

2008 FAMILY DANCE-A-THON:  The first annual Family Dance-a-Thon will be held in the Weaver Activity Center on Friday, October 24^th, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and is open to all St. Mary of the Assumption School students, faculty, and families as well as all St. Mary of the Assumption Parish members and all PSR children.  Come join us for a fun-filled evening with food, games, raffles, silent and Chinese auction items.  Tickets are $7 per family or $3 for an individual and include hot dogs, pizza, chips, pop, water, dessert, and 2 Chinese Auction Tickets with each individual ticket sold and 5 Chinese Auction Tickets when a family ticket is purchased. 

Tickets are on sale in the Gathering Center every weekend after 4:30 Mass on Saturday, and the 10:00 and 12:00 Masses on Sunday.  If you have any questions, please contact Todd or Nicole Schroeder at 350-0720 or email the committee at dance2008@ymail.com.  Hope to see all of you there.

ON MY WAY PROGRAM:   The On My Way Program is designed to enhance the developmental needs of 2 & 3 year olds.  Accompanied by a parent, guardian or caretaker, your child will experience story time, music, arts & crafts, movement, and prayer.  This one hour program introduces your child to a more structured social environment.  Sessions begin on Wednesday, October 1^st for the PM Class (12:30-1:30) and on Friday, October 3^rd, for the AM Class (9:30-10:30).  Both classes will be held in Room 25, the preschool room.  For more information please contact Mrs. Korosi at the school.

ALL SAINTS DAY:  In compliance with our school accreditation goal for Catholicity our fifth graders will again be presenting a “Saint Display” after each mass the weekend of All Saints Day. Each student will be assigned a Saint whom they have discussed or will be discussing in religion class.  The students will research their Saint, make a “Saint” for display, and give a brief oral presentation about their Saint.  These presentations will be taking place in the Gathering Center on Saturday, November 1^st, and Sunday November 2^nd.  Please come with your children and listen to our students’ presentations.  It is our goal to have our students and parents join together and see what the students are learning in the classroom. 

A TIME OF GIVING AND REMEMBERING!

Fall is here and the seasons speak of the Glory of God.  Once again the junior high students are remembering those less fortunate than themselves.  This year the students are collecting money for the following charities:

The Wheelchair Foundation of America:  The Wheelchair Foundation of America is an organization founded by Ken Behring.  The purpose of the Foundation is to provide wheelchairs for persons in poor countries around our world.  For every $75.00 that is sent in to the Foundation, the Foundation matches it and refurbishes a wheelchair for a person in a poor country who cannot afford one.  The need is for one million wheelchairs.  To date, as a school community, we have made the Gift of Mobility available to eight people.

Food for the Poor:  Food for the Poor is an organization that uses $.92 of each dollar collected to help feed the poor of the Diocese.  Thirty-six Dollars ($36.00) can feed sixteen children for one month.

Catholic Charities Youth Helping To Help:  Catholic Charities Youth Helping to Help is a local organization that provides for the needs of poor students in our Diocese.

Northeast Ohio Walk for PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease):  On Thursday, September 18^th, Madddie, a fourth grader at our school, collected donations and raffled off prizes to those students who offered to make a donation for the Northeast Ohio Walk for PKD.  Maddie’s mother organizes this Walk every September and this year Maddie was the captain of “Team ____”.  This Walk is very important to Maddie and her family as her father and twin sisters have the disease.  Thank you to all who supported this great cause.  Generous St. Mary’s families raised over $600 for the team.  The money will go directly to the PKD Foundation where it will be used to fund vital research to find a cure (or at least a good treatment) for PKD.

Fundraiser for Little Sisters of the Poor:  On October 21 – 23 fourth grade students Claire, Brittney, and Gianna will be conducting a fundraiser during the three lunch periods to help raise money for the Little Sisters of the Poor in Cleveland.  This organization serves approximately 100 senior citizens daily providing various types of nursing care.  The Sisters require donations to offset the high costs associated with health care and to provide the elderly dignity in their older years.  The girls will be selling raffle tickets to raffle off 4 Webkinz and will also be selling Tootsie-Pops.  Raffle tickets will be $.50 for one or 3 for a $1.00.  The Tootsie-Pops will be $.50 a piece.  All proceeds will be donated to the Little Sisters of the Poor.  Please help if you are able.

ST. MARY’S JUNIOR HIGH BOOK CLUB IS BACK!  The Junior High Book Club will meet once a month on a Wednesday from 12:05 – 12:30 to have lunch in the library and discuss the book that has been chosen for that particular month.  The first meeting will be on Wednesday, October 1^st.  The book of the month is Eggs by Jerry Spinelli.  If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Zele in the library.

GRADES 3, 4, & 5 BOOK CLUB NEWS!  Grade 3 will have their discussion of the book Christopher Mouse: The Tale of a Small Traveler by William Wise on October 14^th.  The children have enjoyed reading about the adventures of Christopher.  Grade 4 will have their discussion of A Dog’s Life: The Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin on October 15^th.  This heart-touching tale really brings to light the serious problem of homeless animals.  Grade 5 will have their discussion of Willow Run by Patricia Reilly Giff on October 16^th.  While reading this book, the children learned the power of friendship and hope to pull us through difficult times.  Book selections for the month of November will be announced at October Book Club’s discussions.  Keep reading!

UNEMPLOYED OR TEMPORARILY OUT OF WORK??  Your children may qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch!  Applications are available through the school office at any time during the school year.

***IMPORTANT REMINDER!!!***

ALL SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, PARENT VOLUNTEERS, HOMEROOM MOMS/DADS (WHO SPEND TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN) ARE REQUIRED TO BE FINGERPRINTED, HAVE A BACKGROUND CHECK DONE, AND ATTEND A VIRTUS TRAINING SESSION.  A COPY OF THE FINGERPRINTS AND BACKGROUND CHECK WILL BE KEPT ON FILE IN THE SCHOOL AND PARISH OFFICES. [FINGERPRINTING NEEDS TO BE DONE EVERY 5 YEARS.]

SCHOOL LITURGIES FOR OCTOBER:

            October 1^st – Grade 6, Mrs. Taucher      October 15^th – Grade 7, Mr. Smith

            October 8^th – Grade 4, Mrs. Green         October 29^th – Grade 6, Mrs. Novogurski