Between the Lions - October 1, 2009

CALENDAR REMINDERS-  OCTOBER

PRINCIPAL'S REFLECTION
Today students in Kindergarten participated in their first field trip to Cox Farm. Special thanks to Mrs. Merrill, Mrs. Hesse, Mrs. Betack, and Mrs. Jones for organizing this fun-filled, educational experience. Students seemed to enjoy the many activities on their farm visit. Thanks to the parents who were able to attend and chaperone.

Principal's Thought: Key to a successful school year!

Don't underestimate what you, as a parent, can contribute to your child's learning experiences. Getting involved in your child's education can make a tremendous difference in your child's academic success. Research shows a student's academic achievement and self-esteem are closely related to positive parental participation in their education. Parents who help their child learn to read, spell, memorize, or use numbers are expanding their child's opportunities to learn more.

In today's busy world it is often difficult to find the "extra" time, but little lessons, regularly taught, add up to BIG learning. Finding that "extra” time will benefit both you and your child.

Thank you for your support of Catholic education and helping our students grow in grace and wisdom.

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

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless,
but because they’re priceless!
--Sherry Anderson

THANKS & PRAISE

• To Mrs. McCarty, Mrs. Bayne, Mrs. Faunce and Mrs. Butler for chaperoning our 7th and 8th grade students who attended the Saint Theresa’s Dance on Friday night.
• We have so many volunteers programs that it is going to take three people to coordinate them all. Thanks to Mrs. Weigand (who we missed last week) and again to Mrs. Akiba and Mrs. MacKay for volunteering to be our PTO Volunteer Coordinators.
• To Mrs. Kraiger and Mrs. McGriffin for organizing our second PTO Used Uniform Sale TODAY!

SOCCER CHARITY CUP!!!!
Saint Leo’s is planning to schedule Charity Soccer Cup games on November 7th to raise money for Catholic Charities. We have invited Holy Spirit School to participate. The teams are going to be co-ed, games will be held at the PVI HS soccer field from 8:30am-12:30pm (5th grade game at 8:30, 6th grade game at 9:30, 7th grade game at 10:30 and 8th grade game at 11:30) that Saturday. We are in need of four parent/coaches to coach these teams. If interested, please email Mr. DiPippa, at ddipippa@saintleothegreatschool.org. More details will be forthcoming. Thanks for your consideration to help.

CARPOOL PARENTS PLEASE NOTE:
Carpools are not allowed to drop off students at Daniels’ Run Elementary School. Our Crossing Guard has asked the parents to please not continue this practice as it is conflicting with their faculty and staff arriving to school. If this carpooling continues, a police presence will be requested.

INNISBROOK GIFT WRAP SALE:
It's still not too late!  Last minute additions or orders can be processed if you contact Marian Hartzell, 703-359-8963, tjhartzell@verizon.net. Thank you for your generous support.  K-4th grade sellers of 40+ items will travel by limousine to Burger King (date still to be determined), 5-8th graders get $25 Visa gift card, in addition to the wonderful prizes from Innisbrook.  Look for delivery of items to school on October 27th.

COMING SOON.... Family Fun Night hosted by St. Leo's PTO
Saturday, October 24, 2009, 6:30 - 8:30 pm in the Daniel & Lorraine Sprissler Gymnasium. Look for your pre-order form coming home soon! For more information contact Becky Woodword bwoodward6@verizon.net or Kristin Bolster kbolster@saintleothegreatschool.org

Extended Day:
Children need to be registered in order to attend Extended Day. The registration form contains important information that we can access in case of an emergency. The form must be filled out completely. This form includes complete address (including zip codes), doctor's information, policy numbers, and emergency contacts, etc. Children in our Extended Day program need to bring snack. On 12:10pm or earlier dismissal days, your child will also need to bring lunch. Children can bring a change of clothes, third grade and up need to be responsible for their belongings. To play in the gym, children must wear sneakers. In our schedule there is time for homework if you prefer that your child do his/her homework at home please let us know. Otherwise if a child has homework he/she is required to do it during Extended Day. Homework Club starts at 4:30. Thank you for your cooperation!

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

FROM THE LIBRARY –

• Start your Christmas shopping early!! The Fall Bookworm Plantation Book Fair will be held in the school library on Sunday, October 18th (10-1) through Thursday, October 22nd (Monday-Thursday hours are from 8:30 -3:00). Please stop by and support the library!!
• Thank you to Elissa Rizzo (Kindergarten) for your birthday book donation of “Too Many Toys” by David Shannon and to the Davidson Family for their donation of "Akiane, Her Life, Her Art, and Her Poetry". Finally, thank you to Spencer Notarianni for your donation of Books 1, 2, and 3 of the "39 Clues" series. For information on donations or how to donate a Birthday Book, please contact either Mrs. Craven or Mrs. Ruta.

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 Box Tops Corner:
I don't hear the scissors clipping! Come on, we depend on you! We won't be able to reach our goal if you don't ... clip! Thank you to all of you who send coupons this week Your Box Tops Coordinator Mrs. Figueiredo – Preschool.

FROM GUIDANCE: CARE (Christian Awareness of Respect for Everyone) Parent Surveys

• With Christ as the center of our learning, we wish to continue to support a safe and enjoyable learning environment for the students, parents, faculty and staff of St. Leo the Great School. With guidance from the Office of Catholic Schools, we have introduced the CARE (Christian Awareness of Respect for Everyone) program to our school. The objective of this program is to combine all of our ongoing education about respect with some new elements to enhance the awareness of respect for everyone. As part of our CARE Program, we are required to survey our faculty and staff, parents, and students regarding the school climate. The purpose of the survey is to determine the level of respect amongst the school community from your perspective. We will be using the results to help us tailor the newly implemented programs to improve our school’s overall climate. The survey is anonymous and we request that you be as honest as possible when answering the questions. The administration will review the surveys. Please follow the link provided in the e-mail to be sent out today.
• Attention 8th Grade Parents - Applications for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology are now available from the Guidance Office. Interested applicants should pick up an application packet from Mrs. Polan in the Guidance office. Applications are due on Wednesday, October 21, 2009. If you have any questions, please contact Ann Polan at 703-273-1211 x694 or apolan@saintleothegreatschool.org.

PTO DIRECTORY:
This is a friendly reminder that the PTO Phone directory is going to print this week. If you would like to be in the directory this year you need to turn in your PTO membership form. Just fill out the form, attach payment and send it in with your child. If you have misplaced the form you can print one from the school website at http://www.saintleothegreatschool.org/sites/default/files/pdf/PTO/PTO_Me... or pick one up at the front office.

Drink Pouch Recycling - by Mrs. Perry and NJHS
Saint Leo’s will be participating in an “upcycling” program.  What is “upcycling”?  It is recycling materials to make something new.  We will be recycling Capri sun pouches (or any other aluminum pouch) to earn money for our school.  For every pouch we turn in, we receive $.02.  What do you need to do?  Nothing!  We will have re-usable grocery bags in every classroom and cafeteria, so if your student does drink any juices in aluminum pouches at school, they can throw them in there.  They do not need to be washed out-only the straws removed.  If you would like to collect at home, as well, you may.  You can then arrange with Kim Perry (703-928-7105) to pick them up from you after school any day.  If you would like to learn more about the program and see some of the neat things they make from the drink pouches (including pencil cases and back packs!), please visit: www.terracycle.net. Thank you for your participation and support!

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

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.

MOTHERS’ PRAYER GROUP
Saint Leo's mothers meet to read scripture, share in the love of Christ and pray the Rosary. Meetings are 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! For more information, contact Marcia Capizzani at mloureiro2002@aol.com

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.

GIRL SCOUTS – 2nd and 4th grade Parents
The Girl Scouts are still looking for leaders for troops for these grades. Nancy Loftus (Nancy.Loftus9@gmail.com) would like to start up a second grade troop but is need of a co-leader or assistant leader to do so. Please feel free to contact her with any questions or inquiries. The fourth grade has one parent interested in helping part time, but more help is needed to start up a troop. Please contact Beth Ward (Billyjoe@cox.net) with any questions.

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 - 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 18th - Oakcrest School Open House – 1-3pm, Tour of School.
• October 19th - The Columbiettes, the Ladies’ Auxiliary for the Fr. Diamond Council Knights of Columbus, is hosting a craft fair at St. Leo’s church on Saturday October 17, 2009.  We are now accepting registrations from vendors interested in renting booth space for this fair.  Please contact Linda Baringhaus at 703-385-9455 or columbiettes6292@yahoo.com for registration information.
• October 25th - 16th Annual Valvoline Instant Oil Change Goblin Gallop 5K/1K Fun Run. It's an event for the whole family, and many run/walk in costume! Visit http://www.goblingallop.org/ for more information or to register.
• October 25th - Bishop Ireton HS Open House - 1-3pm. Presentation begins at 1pm.
• 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