Saint Leo the Great Catholic School

CALENDAR REMINDERS-  SEPTEMBER

PRINCIPAL'S REFLECTION
I can hardly believe that October is around the corner! I would like to thank you for helping make the month of September flow so smoothly. You have been instrumental in helping your child’s school year start with such success by meeting their teachers, helping them to prepare for each day, encouraging them to do their homework, and attending Back To School Nights. Our students are very fortunate to have parents who truly value their child’s Catholic education. With that in mind, Thursday, October 1st marks our first quarter interim reports for students in grades 4 through 8. Students will bring these progress reports home in the Thursday folders for you to sign and return to their advisor/homeroom teacher. Any questions, please contact individual teachers for additional information. Let us continue to help our students grow in Grace and Wisdom.

Special thanks to our PTO Board who met early this month. We are very fortunate to have such giving parents involved in the support of the philosophy and mission of Catholic Education. Without their help and yours Saint Leo the Great School would not be the National Blue School that it is! Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 14th at 7:15pm in the faculty lunch room.

We would like to welcome Mrs. Lisa Sharkey to our morning Preschool programs. Mrs. Sharkey has accepted the position of Instructional Assistant for the Tu/Th morning 3 year old program, in addition to the M-W-F young 4’s program. We would like to thank Mrs. Khavari for all her years of volunteering here at Saint Leo’s and helping to start the school year with our preschool. She will continue to assist with the Band Program. We wish her well in her future endeavors.

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

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal;
Nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”
--Thomas Jefferson

THANKS & PRAISE

• Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Kent brought for the delicious lunch provided to the faculty last Thursday.
• To the PTO Board and Mrs. Johnson for organizing our Olde Friends/New Friends Coffee last Monday.

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.

FLU UPDATES
from Mr. DiPippa – As we begin a new school year, your child’s health is our top priority. We are working closely with the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning schools. As you may know, flu can be easily spread from person to person. Saint Leo the Great School is taking steps to reduce the spread of flu. Here are a few things you can do to help:

• Teach your child good hand hygiene etiquette. Hands should be washed frequently with soap and water, and hand washing should last for at least 20 seconds. You can set a good example by doing this yourself. If hands are not visibly soiled, hand sanitizers containing at least 60 percent alcohol are also effective
• Teacher your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. Covering up their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable.
• Learn the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
• Keep sick children at home. Any child who is determined to be sick while at school will be sent home. It is also important to keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without the use of fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.

Plan now for your children’s care if you or your children become ill with the flu and need to stay home. Talk to other family members, friends or neighbors about helping with child care or possibly sharing care in such a situation.

Stay informed: I encourage you to visit www.flu.gov or call 1-800-CDC-INFO for the most current information about the flu. I will continue to keep you updated of any additional changes to our school’s strategies to prevent the spread of flu.

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.

SPIRIT WEAR GUIDELINES
Students wearing spirit wear will be allowed to dress out of uniform. Students dressing out of uniform must wear a shirt or sweatshirt with the Saint Leo the Great logo and acceptable jeans/pants or shorts that are uniform compatible (absolutely no short shorts).

FROM CAROLYN MULLER, ROOM PARENT COORDINATOR:
We are pleased to announce this year’s Room Parent assignments. Thank you to everyone to volunteered to help. Your room parents will be contacting their classes shortly to announce planned classroom events for the year.  Advisory room parents will be forthcoming next week. Thank you to everyone!

REMINDER:
Items for the newsletter must be sent to the school by noon Monday for inclusion in the Thursday “Between the Lions” newletter.

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 THE KITCHEN
October lunch cards were sent home this week.  Deadline for turning them in is TOMORROW, Friday, Sept. 18th.  If your child was absent or did not receive theirs for some reason, please print out a menu from the school website, list your child’s name, circle their choices and send in payment.  There are also extra cards in the front office.  Contact Mrs. Cate in the kitchen for further help.

FROM THE LIBRARY...
Thank you to Jake (3rd grade) and Travis (kindergarten) Perry for their religious and fiction birthday book donations to the library.  For information on how to donate a birthday book please contact Mrs. Craven or Mrs. Ruta.

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.

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
Another school year same coupon clipping? Last year you were very supportive and with all the coupons you sent me we were very close of reaching our goal. This year our goal is $700. 00 and I am sure that with your help we are going to reach it. For those families new to the school, you can send the coupons in a baggy or envelope with your child and they will give them to their teacher. Thank you so much and happy clipping and please start clipping if you haven't yet and send them to me: Bianca Figueiredo, Coordinator

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.

THE PRIDE 2009-2010
Attention all Middle School Students: Any Middle School Students interested in working on this year's yearbook should be on the look out for sign up applications going home in Thursday/Friday Folders. The yearbook committee will be made up of a select group of 6th, 7th and 8th graders this year with parent/staff guidance. This committee will meet weekly after school, on Thursdays, starting in October. Please complete the application and return to the front office. Questions-please inquire with Mary Beth Crosson or Joanne McCarty. Thank you.

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.

MOTHERS’ PRAYER GROUP
will be starting up again! We meet to read scripture, share in the love of Christ and pray the Rosary. Meetings will be held twice a month on the 2nd Thursday of the month and on 4th Wednesday of the month at 8:10am, right after drop-off in the parish hall, St. Mark’s room. Come whenever you can, our first meeting is Wednesday, September 23rd. For more information, contact Marcia Capizzani at mloureiro2002@aol.com

INNISBROOK GIFT WRAP SALE: SEPTEMBER 3-24.
Innisbrook Gift Wrap Sale through Sept 24th: Parents, thank you for your generous support.  For EZ order entry methods, 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 totaling $85 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 in 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 receive a $25 Visa gift card.  These prizes are in addition to all of the wonderful thank you packages described in your sales catalog envelopes.  Note: the prizes are NOT cumulative, as they have been in the past.  If your child wants a specific reward gift, make sure you sell the number of items in that prize category.  For example, if you want the spinning soccer ball, sell only 10-14 items.  If you sell 15 items, you get the safari flashlight instead. Innisbrook also has "instant" winners which all orderers are eligible.  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

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 FOOD 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.

• THIS WEEKEND - 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.
• THIS WEEKEND - PVI Runfest - PVI is looking for middle-school volunteers and/or parents to help out at the 10th annual PVI Runfest this Sunday. The Runfest benefits the award-winning Options program for mentally-handicapped students at Paul VI. If you can volunteer, please contact Suzanne Knight at 703-507-9415, or t-sknight@prodigy.net.
• 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 12th- Paul VI Columbus Day Basketball Camp for boys & girls in gr. 2 - 8.  9 am - 4 pm at Paul VI High School gym.  The cost is $50.00 per player.  To register contact Scott Allen at coachsallen@aol.com
• October 31st - 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