St. Ambrose School

February 17, 2012

Dear Parents,

Congratulations to our Science Fair winners! Ten students and 2 alternates will represent St. Ambrose at the Diocesan Science Fair in April.

Our middle school MathCounts Club will be competing tomorrow. They have been meeting each Friday before school to prepare for the contest. Good luck to all our mathematicians!

Good news from the Virginia Catholic Conference:

VICTORY ALERT: SCHOOL CHOICE BILL PASSES FULL SENATE

An historic moment is upon us!The Virginia Catholic Conference’s top education priority – the Education Improvement Scholarship bill (SB 131) – passed the full Senate this morning!  After very lengthy debate, the vote on the bill was a 20-20 deadlock – a tie that Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling broke in favor of the measure.

Speaking to this first-ever full Senate approval of the initiative, Conference Director Jeff Caruso noted, “This bill is vitally important to families with limited economic means, and to Catholic and other nonpublic schools across Virginia as they work to provide opportunities for children in their communities.  Virginia’s Catholic bishops, their two dioceses, and the 81 Catholic schools throughout their dioceses are extremely grateful for this outcome and to all who helped make it possible.”

The legislation, which provides tax credits for K-12 scholarship donations, now proceeds to the House of Delegates.  The House has already passed a similar bill by a 64-35 vote.

School choice in Virginia has indeed taken a giant leap forward!

Have a wonderful weekend! Let us continue to pray for one another.

God bless,

Barbara Dalmut

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February 15, 2012

Hip Hip Hooray! Our gym lights are installed! Even the students are commenting about the tremendous difference! Thank you for your patience. We are having Extended Day and lunch in the gym again!

For your planning purposes, please note the following dates:

Friday, Feb. 17 — regular dismissal at 3:00 Monday, Feb. 20 is Presidents’ Day –no school Thursday, March 8 — Teacher Work Day — 11:30 dismissal Friday, March 9 — Professional Development Day — NO SCHOOL Wednesday, March 21 — DFE Work Day for Faculty –11:30 dismissal Friday, March 30 — Report Card Work Day for Faculty — 11:30 dismissal Thursday, April 5 — Holy Thursday — Dismissal at 11:30 for Easter Break — NO PM Extended Day!

We return from Easter Break on Monday, April 16. Be sure to mark Terra Nova testing for grades 2-7 on your calendar — April 23-27. It will help your child’s test results if you do not schedule any appointments during that week.

Lost & Found: Have you seen an extra Adult Small gray St. Ambrose School Sweatshirt?If so please send it to the school office.

God bless,

Barbara Dalmut

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February 15, 2012

Dear Parents,

The Virginia Catholic Conference’s top education priority – the Education Improvement Scholarship bill – cleared a major hurdle Tuesday, passing the Senate Finance Committee by an 8-7 vote.  The bill, which provides tax credits for K-12 scholarship donations, now proceeds to an unprecedented floor vote later this week in the Senate, where it faces an even stiffer challenge.  Please email your Senator now in support of this bill, which is vitally important to families with limited economic means, and to Catholic and other nonpublic schools across Virginia as they work to sustain enrollments and provide opportunities for children in their communities.

To send an email, go to:

http://capwiz.com/vacatholic/issues/alert/?alertid=61002341&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

or compose a letter of your own. It is important that they hear from a large number of people. The electronic version takes only a few minutes. Thank you for your support!

God bless,

Barbara Dalmut

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Dear Parents,

The lights in the gym are being installed this week. Please bear with us — the Extended Day will be in the Library this week. You can use the “Library Entrance” at the left side of the building. Thank you for your patience!

What a wonderful evening on Saturday! Thank you to all those who worked so tirelessly on the event. They are still crunching numbers and updating records, but we will let you know when we have the final tally.

A few clarifications:

The white Capitals signed jersey was inadvertently listed in the program as being donated by the Capitals. It was among the many items generously donated by Bill and Theda Foster, St. Ambrose parishioners and patrons of the school.

If you read your program cover to cover as I did, you will notice a blank half-page. The ad that was supposed to run there is copied below. Alicia Cassell is a school parent, and her business was mysteriously deleted. We apologize. I am the lucky to be the winner of the consultation that she donated! Here is the information you should have seen in the program:

Fresh Ideas Interiors

One Day Interior Make-Overs

Using What You Already Own – Create

A Beautiful Home Redesign – A Less Expensive Alternative to Traditional Interior Design

Move-In Decorating/Downsizing/Bookcases/China Cabinets

Gift Certificates Available

Alicia Cassell

703-581-8583               ajm.cassell@gmail.com

You may print out the attachment for a more print friendly version.

Happy Valentine’s Day! A gentle reminder — if your child brings in valentines, please be sure to include one for every member of the class. Thank you!

God bless,

Barbara Dalmut

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Dear Parents,

I am sure you are wondering if there is anything else happening besides the Gala, and the answer is YES!

Tomorrow is Picture Day for activities, clubs, and teams. Please make sure you have your sweater and your proper uniform so that you can have your picture taken for the yearbook. Please check your skirt length and make sure you wear uniform shoes (we have seen quite a few tennis shoes lately). The 3rd and 7th grades have PE tomorrow. If you could please wear your school uniform and bring your PE clothes, we will give you time to change after your pictures are taken. If you are not a member of any club or activity, please disregard this request.

Science Fair is Friday! Parents and students may preview the projects at our Family Night Thursday from 7:00-8:00 in the Parish Hall. Students must be accompanied and supervised by their parents. This is a great opportunity for the 6th graders to get ideas for their science fair projects next year!

Congratulations to all our basketball teams! I have enjoyed seeing every team play. I am so proud of the sportsmanship and teamwork I see displayed on the court!

An invitation from Bishop O’Connell High School:

Bishop O’Connell High School is hosting a *CYO Night on Friday, Feb. 10.* Any boy or girl who is wearing a CYO jersey gets in free to the varsity boys’ basketball game against Bishop McNamara.  Tip off is at 7:30 p.m., but you should plan to arrive by 7 p.m. to qualify for this special offer, which includes a coupon for a free drink and snack from the concession stand.  Better yet, come by *6:30 p.m. to meet the team*!  Entering the school via entrance #6 (near the baseball field) will put you in the action!  Questions?  Contact Coach Wootten at jwootten@bishopoconnell.org.

God bless,

Barbara Dalmut

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Dear Parents,

It is hard to believe, but we are a few days away from our Gala! It promises to be a wonderful evening of community building and fundraising! There is no question; we are counting on the success of the evening! The funds raised by the PTO go directly to provide funds to support our strong academic and spiritual program

A few requests –

THE ONLINE AUCTION will end at 7:00pm on Thursday, Feb. 9! Many items will carry over to the Gala, but some will close out. If you are bidding on an item that will go to the Gala, but you are not attending, you can bid by proxy. We will have a Secret Bidder representing you, and will keep bidding for you until the item reaches your Maximum Bid.

Be sure to look again. There are 48 items – if you haven’t looked this week, you missed some great additions. Go to: http://www.biddingforgood.com/StAmbrose.

TICKETS : If you are planning to attend and have not reserved your tickets, please do so right away. Last year we sold out, and it was very disappointing for some people who wanted to attend.

HELP! If you have not volunteered to help because you thought everything was taken care of, or didn’t know what to sign up for, it is not too late! This is CRUNCH week, and there is plenty to do!

– Can you run an errand? Pick up 20 paint sticks from Home Depot for our bidding paddles? Pick up some last-minute donations?

– Setup on Friday afternoon from 2:00- approximately 6:00pm

– Setup on Saturday – from 9:00am until we’re done – the more the merrier… and the faster!

– Cleanup:  immediately after the Gala and/or 8am-noon on Sunday (we have to clear out for CCD classes)

Even if you are not attending the Gala, we need your help! 8th graders are welcome to earn their service hours with setup and cleanup. We have high school students helping out at the actual evening event. We can’t have our current students present when alcohol is being served. I am afraid that our theme: A Knight for the Kids was a little confusing – it’s for their benefit, but they can’t attend! The office has names of some babysitters if you still need one!

I look forward to seeing you at the Gala!  Three of my four children and my sister will be attending (and helping as needed). This is a family event – don’t miss out on the chance to be a part of the Gala!

God bless,

Barbara Dalmut

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Dear Parents,

Catholic Schools Week is off to a good start! Tomorrow is the day we focus on Service — and who serves more or better than our teachers and staff? Please take a moment to send a note to some of the people who work so hard to make your child’s school such a wonderful place to grow and learn.

Wednesday at 8:30: we will have a school assembly. Ms. Briceno will show a video about the parish in Banica, Dominican Republic where she served as a missionary for a year. We will dismiss at 11:30 so the teachers can have an Appreciation Luncheon and work on report cards. Thank you to our 8th grade parents for providing the luncheon!

Students who wore their school uniforms to Mass on Sunday may dress-down tomorrow. (If your child has PE on Wednesdays, they may wear their PE uniform.)Thank you for being ambassadors for our school! This was our most successful Open House ever! We appreciate you spreading the word. If you have not sent in your re-registration form, please do! We may have waiting lists in several grades next year!!!

We do have a single case of head lice in the school. Please be watchful. If your child is scratching, please check carefully. The sooner you catch the lice, the easier it is to get rid of them!

Don’t forget tomorrow night is FUDD Night! See you there! There is also a fabulous presentation at Bishop O’Connell High School. The book is gripping, inspirational, and heart-wrenching. I have heard that she is a very accomplished speaker, and addresses the important topic of forgiveness.

Left to Tell Author Immaculée Ilibagiza – Feb. 1

Immaculée Ilibagiza, Rwandan genocide survivor, and author of the book, Left to Tell, will give a presentation on the power of faith and forgiveness on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Bishop O’Connell High School auditorium. The public is invited to this event which is sponsored by the O’Connell PTO. Admission is free. Read more about the inspiring story of this remarkable young woman at www.bishopoconnell.org/lefttotell.

Bishop O’Connell is located at 6600 Little Falls Road in Arlington. For more information, call 703-237-1400.

God bless,

Barbara Dalmut

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January 28, 2012

Dear Parents,

Tomorrow begins Catholic Schools Week! Let’s take a moment to be thankful for this wonderful opportunity to study and pray in this fine community. No two schools are the same — and each has its own beauty. We sent home a flyer in the Wednesday folder advertising our Open House tomorrow. I hope you had a chance to read all the information on the back, describing all that we have to offer.

As principal,I have a rare view of the school.  I get to see all the teachers in action, and have a chance to communicate with all the students. Just as we have difficult times as adults, students have the same challenges. They may not “click” with a particular teacher or group of classmates. That experience is a fertile  opportunity for growth.

I reflect back to prior years, and can see that a challenge that was faced and conquered became the opportunity for a child to blossom. Remember the adage, “You can’t see the forest for the trees?” Well, we often see specific problems, and don’t think of the big picture — becoming stronger in our faith, becoming life-long learners, and developing compassion and a desire to serve others. What St. Ambrose offers is a caring environment that treats each child as a unique individual, helping him/her to grow into the strong person that God intended. Life without challenges is mediocre. Without challenge, there is no victory!

Tomorrow we have our Open House. You are welcome to join us for coffee and donuts.If you would like to bring a friend, we will be happy to give them a tour. All the teachers will be available, and the PTO is providing refreshments. Students will be asked to remain in the gym so that our guests aren’t overwhelmed in the hallways! They will have questions and we’d like to be able to guide them through.

I have asked our students to wear their school uniform to Church wherever they attend on Sunday. I will grant them a Dress-Down Pass for Wednesday in exchange!

Monday morning we have our Living Rosary at 8:15.You are welcome to attend.

Teacher Appreciation Day is Wednesday, and we will dismiss at 11:30. Thank you to our 8th grade parents who are providing a luncheon for our fabulous teaching team! We have a full afternoon of work afterward! Extended Day will be open until 6pm, as usual.

Friday we will have our School Spelling Bee at 10am. You are welcome to join us for 9:00 Mass and the Bee!

I hope you had a chance to read two articles in the Arlington Catholic Herald this week.

• – p.11 — my daughter Meg and her vocation are highlighted. I have never seen my daughter so happy and fulfilled! If you don’t get the Herald, here is the link: http://catholicherald.com/stories/Responding-generously-and-joyfully,17918

• – p. B4 — Daniel Duca (son of our IT Director Fred Duca of Manus Dei) has received the Eucharist every day since his First Communion! Inspiring!

While Teacher Appreciation Day is Wednesday, I hope you appreciate the sacrifice your child’s teachers make every day for them. They dedicate countless hours and many weekends to providing the best learning experience for your children. Last night at the Junior High Dance, we had a huge contingency of smiling teachers and staff — enjoying the music and their students. What dedication!

May God continue to bless our efforts,

Barbara Dalmut

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