From the Desk of:

Mrs. Gail A. Kueper

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year!  I hope you and your family had a joyous Christmas, and you had the opportunity to enjoy the special moments and traditions that bring families together during this holy season. 

January is a very busy month and the children will complete their first semester on January 13^th!  The winter months bring us the reality of cold and bitter days and the excitement of the holidays are behind us.  However, we continue to nourish our children with the new knowledge and ability to learn, discover and question during the variety of lessons that are planned daily.  The challenge for educators this time of year is to continue to motivate our students to achieve and work to his and her fullest potential.  We will also continue our efforts to encourage the children to model Christian action.  I have seen our children constantly doing good deeds and helping others around the school during these past months.  We have a wonderful group of students who strive to respect each other.  My request is that we work together between home and school to encourage students to use their best effort and to grow spiritually and academically.

Catholic Education Week begins Sunday, January 29, 2012!  This is a wonderful time to appreciate the Catholic education that your children are receiving at St. Scholastica School.  It is also a time for Catholic educators to appreciate the parents of their students.  It is a pleasure for our faculty to teach your children their faith and all other areas of our curriculum!  Please join us as the St. Scholastica School and Religious Education students begin Catholic Education Week with Mass at noon on January 29^th.  The school will then have an Open House that will take place after Mass, and everyone is invited!  Our school faculty will be in their classrooms to greet guests after Mass.  Please invite anybody you know that may consider enrolling their children in our school.  Details of the activities for the rest of the week are also being sent home in this family packet.

May God bless you and your family throughout the year.  As we begin this year, I want to extend my personal appreciation to all our parents for you constant support and cooperation.  We have a wonderful community of families at St. Scholastica School!  

Sincerely,

Gail A. Kueper

Principal

Parents interested in enrolling a child in the St. Scholastica Kindergarten Program or new students (if your child is in kindergarten this year, you do not have to attend this meeting) entering grade 1 are invited to attend a meeting on Tuesday, January 31^st in the activity center at 7:00 PM.  It is important for all interested parents to attend this meeting, as there is limited space in kindergarten.

To be eligible for kindergarten, a child must be five by September 1, 2012.  To be eligible for first grade, a child must be six by September 1, 2012.

Information regarding the curriculum, registration information and testing dates will be given to all attendees.  If other siblings attend the school, it is still recommended to attend the meeting if your child will be entering kindergarten.

We will continue to have an on-site extended care program/Bright Stars Program for parents who wish to keep their children at St. Scholastica for the entire day. We are continuing this program to enhance the arts in the kindergarten program.  Since this will be a smaller number of students, Mrs. Kesterson (Bright Stars Facilitator) will be able to give children time in the gym, art activities and other age appropriate activities.  The cost of Bright Stars will be the same as the after school extended care program.  Parents who have other children in the school will have first choice on which session to enroll their child.

EMERGENCY CLOSING

In the event of severe weather, please listen to your radio or TV for information regarding school closing. If for any reason St. Scholastica is not mentioned on severe weather days, we automatically close if Woodridge School District # 68 is closed.  Consider our school closed if Woodridge Public School District 68 is closed. An information sheet was sent to you last week.  We will also use our automated system that should call your home or cell phone as soon as we decide to close school.  However, there may be glitches.  Please continue to use the closing information sheet we sent you last week to be sure you are aware of a school closing. Please do not call the rectory or parish center. 

THANK YOU!

Thank you to our volunteer who helped with the Vision and Hearing Screening.  We appreciate Mrs. Lori Smolik for taking the time to organize this day with the teachers and students.

The students and faculty thank Mrs. Donna Czubernat for organizing Santa’s Secret Shop.  Many wonderful gifts were purchased from the shop!  Thanks to all our parents who helped work with Mrs. Czubernat.  The students are always excited to do their Christmas shopping each year!  Thank you to all who donated items. The profit from this event goes to our operating budget.

We appreciate Mrs. Shari Vasko and all our middle school moms who helped her with the Middle School Christmas Luncheon.  These people helped make this day very special for our students.  The staff of St. Scholastica also enjoyed this celebration.  We appreciate your kindness!  Thank you to all our parents who helped with the Christmas parties.  The children enjoyed all the activities!  Our students always look forward to our Christmas celebrations!

CONGRATULATIONS FATHER RIVA!!

Father Riva has been notified by the National Catholic Education Association that he will receive The NCEA Distinguished Pastor Award!  Father Riva will be honored in Boston at a special dinner during the NCEA Convention and Expo!  This is an annual award that is presented to select Pastors who give their support to Catholic elementary schools throughout the United States.  The criteria to receive such award are:

Ø Possess a clear philosophy of Catholic education

Ø Provide spiritual guidance to the school community

Ø Participate in school activities

Ø Work with school board/support school administration

Ø Receive high recommendations from the principal, faculty, school board representative and parent representative

Ø Receive the endorsement of the diocesan superintendent and approval of the diocesan ordinary/vicar

SCIENCE FAIR

Our annual Science Fair will take place on Thursday, January 26^th at 7:30 p.m. All members of our parish are welcome to visit the Science Fair.  Our seventh grade students and several of our eighth grade students will be participating in this annual competition.  All students will view projects during the school day.

Mrs. Krasno began helping students prepare for the Science Fair in September.  She evaluates each student as they research their topic, develop their paper and test their hypothesis.  Mrs. Haffner and Mrs. Tuch worked with Mrs. Krasno as the students presented their project in class.  They prepare the students for their presentations and help them prepare for the judging of the projects.  Mrs. Quinn assists the students with their research paper.  Students are less anxious on the day of Science Fair because our teachers help them feel comfortable and prepared.  I appreciate all the work our teachers do to help our children succeed and feel proud of their efforts.

Several projects will be chosen to compete in the Regional Science Fair in March.  Students who qualify will move on to the state competition.  We wish the best of luck to all our students participating in the Science Fair!

REMINDER

The end of the 2^nd quarter is January 13, 2012.  Report cards will go home on Friday, January 20^th.  Our honors assembly will be held on Monday, January 30^th at 1:15 p.m.  Students will be dismissed on January 27^th at 11:00 a.m.  Parent/teacher conferences will be held in the afternoon only if a teacher or parent requested a conference.