Update from Mrs. Dalmut – Aug. 29, 2014

Posted on August 29, 2014

Dear Parents,
We are winding down the first week of school, and there are still a lot of smiles! Thank you for your cooperation with uniforms and procedures. We give you a lot of information at once, so congratulations on navigating Week 1! If you don’t have the hang of things yet, don’t worry. We are only on Day 5 — 175 to go!

Biggest topic of the week: shoes! Solid white or black athletic shoes for everyday; black or white with a moderate accent color for PE. PE uniforms may be worn even if we have an early dismissal and no PE that day.

Second topic: CARPOOL! We were doing well until this morning. The faculty and staff gather for morning prayer each day. Today we got carried away — lots to pray about — and started the line one or two minutes late. Huge difference! It is crucial that we have two lines in the morning for the first few minutes so that we keep traffic off Woodburn Road. Today we went past the stop sign at Woodburn and almost to Prosperity — a first! When you turn the corner at the Parish Activities Building, please fill two lines. They will alternate — 10 cars from the right; 10 cars from the left until the line eases. It works! We will make every effort to start the line ON TIME. I apologize for the delay today.

We have all the lunch orders in — thank you! Next week you will receive the Smoothie King order form for Thursday smoothies. The next order for hot lunch will be October’s order at the end of September. Milk is a year-long order, so you may add that any time.

Co-Curricular activities: I had a few requests for more information.

• The Chess Club will meet on alternating Friday afternoons. The information is attached to this email. It is open to grades 3-8. It is amazing to see these kids play — they do not have to have experience to join the club!
• Track team will begin to practice next week. Apparently the date for the meet was just set — Sept. 27-28 — so we will start with a practice on Wednesday, Sept. 3, and then Monday afternoons (3:15-4:15). Mr. Hechinger will let you know if there are additional practices to get ready for the meet.
• Choir begins this Tuesday — 3:15-4:30. Mr. Cotton has great plans for the Choir this year. Please send in your forms soon!
• Girls on the Run is open to grades 3-6. It is a wonderful program that combines healthy living and running. The session starts with a short message, and then the girls run! We have had the program previously, and the girls love it! You do not have to be an accomplished runner to join. Vanilda Salinger-Swett will be coaching this club. She has one assistant, but could use one more. Please contact her if you can help. More information will come later in September. The program runs until December. Sessions will probably be Monday and Friday so that we don’t conflict with Band on Wednesday. Stay tuned!
• Battle of the Books is for grades 5 and 6 students. They form a team and “battle” teams from other diocesan schools. Teachers and parent volunteers read one of the book selections and discuss it with the team. It is AMAZING how much they recall, and how they grow in their ability to compare and contrast the books. It is for readers and those who are wanting to improve their reading comprehension skills. I have been a guest of Mrs. Healy’s program for many years, and am so impressed with this program!
• Crochet USA is open to students in grades 3-8. The students, teachers, and parent volunteers crochet granny square blankets for our injured soldiers. We have been doing this since 2008, and have made over 50 blankets. It is a service and a joy!
• MathCounts is a math enrichment program for grades 6-8. Last year we met at 7am on Mondays. We are exploring with the students the possibility of meeting during recess/lunch one day of the week. The competition is in the early spring, and is very enlightening! Please talk with your students about whether they will participate.

Do you have pictures of our Ice Cream Social, or some of the joyful faces returning to school? We could use some First Day of School photos! Please send them to me or Krista Gauthier (development@stambroseschool.org). Thank you!

Have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings,
Barbara Dalmut