Saint Leo the Great Catholic School

CALENDAR REMINDERS-  SEPTEMBER

PRINCIPAL'S REFLECTION
Thank you in advance to the 6-7-8th grade parents who were able to attend our Back-To-School Night this evening. We hope to have a great turnout, and I know you will benefited from meeting your child’s teacher. Please consider having a vested interest in becoming an active participant in your child’s Catholic school education. Thank you for all of your feedback from our New Parent Orientation, I know that with good communication and working together we can continue to help our students “Grow in Grace and Wisdom!” Please know that I am always willing to discuss any concerns that you may have -- feel free to contact me at any time during the school year.

With that in mind, please give student/teacher relationships some time to develop. Many children complain about teachers at the beginning of the school year. Often children just need a little time to adjust. If difficulties arise, your child can talk with the teacher/advisor or guidance counselor – you can do the same! Chances are the concern will be resolved quickly.

I am pleased to once again announce six afterschool optional enrichment programs for our students. Please see below for the list of programs offered. Class enrollment is based on first-come, first-served basis.

I want to thank all of the families for making such a wonderful effort to get the students to school on time. This allows for a smooth start to the school day…..well done!

All new and returning parents are invited to the PTO “Olde Friends/New Friends” coffee on Monday, September 14th at 8:30-9:30am in the Guadalupe room of the Olde Parish Hall. For further information please call Mrs. Kathy Johnson, 703-620-0690.

As Always, for the children,
Mr. David DiPippa, Principal

Thought for the Day
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from
The Father of the heavenly lights,…”
--James 1:17 “

THANKS & PRAISE

• To Mrs. Kathy White for organizing, and our faculty for participating in our very special Opening School Mass last Friday.
• To Mrs. Nguyen for the donuts and bagels to our faculty and staff to start our year off with yummies!

AFTERSCHOOL OPTIONAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS- LOOK FOR FLYERS/REGISTRATIONS!

• Drama Club - moderator Mrs. Cate - Grades 2,3,4
• Chess Club - moderators Mr. and Mrs. Cronin, Grades 2,3,4,5,6
• High School Placement Test Review - Student Advanced Learning, Grade 8 only.
• Math Mania - Student Advanced Learning, Grades 4, 5
• Mad Science of Washington - Parent/Moderator needed (Call Mr. DiPippa)-Grades 4,5
• Art Club - moderator Mrs. Bolster - Grades 3, 4

AN IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL DOG OWNERS:
Due to concerns expressed by some parents, we are asking all parents and guardians who own dogs to please leave them in the car or at home during the school day, especially during carpool pick-up and drop-off. Our younger students are expressing fear and this also delays our carpool for all of our families. Thank you for your cooperation.

NOTES FROM MRS. WASHINGTON, Assistant Principal:
We are off to a wonderful start of a new year. I would like to help with a few reminders...

• Please make sure that your uniforms are properly fitted. Girls' skirts should reach their knees and they are not permitted to wear makeup, including eye makeup.
• Boys & girls wearing shorts should have on a belt.
• All students wear school dress shoes on non-PE days.
• Students may wear their uniform sweater if they are cold with the current uniform.

Also, please note a clarification in the Birthday Dress Up Day section of the handbook, p.74. When it is a child's birthday they have the option of dressing up in their own clothing, something equal or better than the uniform. This dress up day should take place on a non-PE day (even if it's the day before or after their actual birth date) because students may not wear sneakers. Dress Up is a special option, but not mandatory and a child may wear their school uniform if they do not wish to dress up.

UPDATES
are made to the school calendar daily. Please go to www.saintleothegreatschool.org and click on calendar then click monthly. All activities of the school and important dates, field trips and letter days are posted. This calendar goes through to June and can be printed—however, keep checking….new items are added every day!

FROM GUIDANCE:
Speech and Language Screenings - An opportunity will be provided for St. Leo's students to be screened for speech and language concerns. Mrs. Katherine Moore, a licensed speech/language pathologist, will offer the screenings at $10.00 per child. The purpose of the screening is to determine whether a full evaluation is recommended. Teachers who have observed a need among their students for screening will send their recommendations home with a request for parental permission. Parents may also request the screenings by sending a not to their child's teacher. The screenings are scheduled for Tuesday, September 29th. Please call Mrs. Polan, guidance counselor, if you have any questions at 703-273-1211 x649.

FINANCIAL AID
Thank you to all the parents who have generously given a donation to the financial aid fund. Father Whitestone will match all the donated funds from our parents and friends of Saint Leo's. Any questions -- Please contact Mary Lou Gross at the rectory, 703-273-5369.

TUITION PAYMENTS:
Reminder that tuition payments are due the 10th of each month. Thank you for being timely. If you have a concern or question, please call Mary Lou Gross at the rectory at 703-273-5369. A $30.00 late fee will be implemented for late tuition payments after the 20th of each month.

VOLUNTEER COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS
Parents, grandparents, and siblings over 21 years of age who want to volunteer in the school must complete all requirements of the Diocese of Arlington. Please refer to page 46-48 of the 2009-2010 Parent/Student Handbook for details. Background packets are available through the front office of the school. Please plan ahead and get your background materials in as soon as possible. Questions? Please call Mrs. Ferlotti at 703-273-1211, ext.646.

Innisbrook Gift Wrap Sale: September 3-24.
It's time for our major PTO fundraiser of the year. Thanks to your generosity in the past, we have purchased our beautiful new school marquis and sponsored school assemblies such as the Chinese acrobats. Look for the catalog envelopes coming home today.

Again we have EZ order entry methods. When ordering, go to Innisbrook.com, enter school code 102926, and follow instructions. Turn in your printed receipt and checks by September 24th for delivery to the school by October 30th. Pay online with a credit card you will receive your items within 5 days, postage paid on orders totalling $80 or more. If you have trouble ordering online, you may call Innisbrook Customer Service (877) 525-5608, OR simply turn in all paperwork and monies collected and we will enter your orders for you. Incentives: Any student grades K-4 selling 40 or more items goes on a Hummerzine ride to Burger King for a free lunch and playtime. Students in grades 5-8 selling 40 or more items receives a $25 Visa gift card. These prizes are in addition to all of the wonderful thank you packages described in your sales catalog envelopes. Innisbrook also has "instant" winners which all orderers are eligible for. Last year Olivia Ratay won $100 gift card to Best Buy, and other families won gift packs, simply by having the orders entered online. For any questions, please contact Marian Hartzell (703) 359-8963, tjhartzell@verizon.net

THE ANNUAL OLD FRIENDS/NEW FRIENDS COFFEE
will be held in the Old Parish Hall in the Guadalupe Room on Tuesday, September 14, 2009, from 8:30am to 9:30am. Siblings that are not in school are welcome. Mr. DiPippa, our principal, Fr. Whitestone, our pastor, Mrs. Washington, our Assistant Principal, and Mrs. Polan, our guidance counselor, and the room parents for each grade, will stop by as well. This is a wonderful opportunity to visit with old friends and make new friends. Hope to see you there! :)

PLEASE NOTE:
We have been notified that our NEW United Way number from the United Way of the National Capital Area Campaign for 2009-2010 is 91500. If you are searching for our school, please be sure to spell out Saint or it will not come up as a listing.

SCRIP FOOT CARDS:
Sponsored by the Fr. Diamond Knights of Columbus. SCRIP is sold for Giant, Safeway and Shoppers Food Warehouse. Profits go toward Scholarship funds and the ST. Leo’s PTO. Call Larry Novak 703.978.6127 or email ALRN01@aol.com for information. Available at Providence Hall every weekday at 2pm or the school parking lot on early release day and Knights of Columbus Meetings.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Ages 10-14 Free Throw Contest and Soccer Challenge at the Parish Picnic this Sunday, September 12th from 1-3pm in the parking lot and baseball field. For more info: Tim Hogan 703.926.4347.

ATTENTION ALL TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES!
Just in case you missed it at Open House- all forms are due by FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11. Forms may be sent into school to the Front Office. Athletes may do both Cross Country and Track if they wish, but must fill out separate forms, one fee of $10. Reminder: CYO Meet Oct 3 & 4. Practices will be:

• Tues, Sept 22: Grades 3, 4, and 5, 3 PM to 4:30 PM
• Thurs, Sept 24: Grades 6, 7 and 8, 3PM to 4:30 PM
• Tues, Sept 29: Grades 3, 4 and 5, 3 PM to 4:30 PM
• Thurs, Oct 1: Grades 6, 7 and 8, 3 PM to 4:30 PM

Questions? Please email dkudipietro@viocvirginia.com. For forms, please visit:
http://www.nvjcyo.org/Forms/PARTICIPANTAGREEMENTtrack.pdf
http://www.nvjcyo.org/Forms/medicalform.pdf

• September 19-20-21 – McLean AAUW 39th Annual Recycle Used Books for Scholarship Sale- McLean Community Center, 40,000 books sorted. Average book costs $2. Questions? Call 703-448-9195.
• September 26 - Friends of the Poor Walk - Saturday - 5 K walk and cookout at Frying Pan Park, Herndon, Virginia. 8:30-9:30am registration, 10am - walk. For more information: www.svdpfriendsofthepoorwalk.org. This is to benefit the St. Leo Conference for the Saint Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.
• October 3rd-W.I.S.E. UP-Catholic Charities Workshop for parents of K-6th grade adopted children. Beatley Central Library, Alexandria. $50 per couple. RSVP to Catholic Charities 703.425.0100 for questions and reservations.
• October 31 - National Autism Walk – at the National Mall, Saturday. For more information, please visit online at www.NationalAutismWalk.org or call 202.955.3111.
• November 1st - Paul VI Fall Open House - for 8th grade parents and students, Sunday from 1-4pm