Between the Lions - January 21, 2010

CALENDAR REMINDERS-  JANUARY

Monday	25		NO SCHOOL TODAY DIOCESAN TEACHER IN-SERVICE
Tuesday	26	I	DEADLINE for registration for Math Mania, Gr. 4 & 5 9:45-12pm-Ext. Day Directors & Staff in-service-St. Mark’s School
Wednesday	27	O	Principal/Pastor Luncheon – Ft. Meyer 8:30-11:30am- 4th Gr. Colonial Days-Guadalupe & St. Matthew rms. Olde Parish Hall
Thursday	28	N	9-9:30am-Pennies for Patients Kick-off Assembly (NJHS) Gr. K-5 Mrs. Erin Walker 9:40-10:10am-Pennies for Patients Kick-off Assembly (NJHS) Gr.6-8 Mrs. Erin Walker 3-3:45pm-8th Gr. Spanish Review for HS exemption exam-Vianney Ctr
Friday	29	L	Report cards Distributed in Grades K-8 6th Gr. Science Field Trip Permission Forms Due
Sunday	31		Catholic Schools Week 11am – Student Government led Mass for the start of Catholic Schools Week 12:45-2:30pm – OPEN HOUSE – Principal’s Welcome –Daniel & Lorraine Sprissler Gymnasium. Tour of school follows.

RE-REGISTRATION FEES, Grade K-7, OVERDUE-
USE NEON YELLOW COUPON IN TUITION BOOKLET.

PRINCIPAL'S REFLECTION
I would like to thank in advance, the students and parents who are able to attend the March for Life tomorrow. Your participation in this event has given a voice to those who have no voice. Please continue to pray for the sacredness of human life of all God’s children-both the born and the unborn!

Tomorrow, January 22nd, marks the end of the 2nd Quarter Grading Period. You will receive the report cards on Friday, January 29th. Please review these reports with your children. Praise their accomplishments and support them in areas of need and growth. Report cards and envelopes should be signed and returned to school by Tuesday, February 2nd. If a conference is needed, please contact individual teachers to set up a mutually convenient time. Thank you for your support of Catholic Education! Together we can help students grow in grace and wisdom.

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

THANKS & PRAISE

• Congratulations to Nick W, (2-16 Mrs. Doss), for submitting the winning theme, “Fairfax Salutes America,” to the City of Fairfax Parks and Recreation 4th of July Parade. Nick will be a guest of the parade committee throughout the Independence Day Celebration on July 3, 2010, in addition to winning a $100 Savings Bond. Congratulations Nick!!!
• To Mrs. Gormley who has volunteered to chair the 7th and 8th grade Science Fair. If you are interested in helping, please turn in the science fair volunteer flyer to the front office.
• To Mr. McGovern who has volunteered to chair our Fall PTO Golf Outing. If you are interested in helping, please contact him directly at KRMCG1@yaoo.com.
• To Mrs. White for directing our 7th and 8th grade Spring Musical which will be presented this afternoon for the students and this evening for the parents.
• To Mrs. McCarty and Mrs. Crosson for their help in organizing our yearbook orders which were due last week.
• To all the parents, faculty and staff who contributed to the Saint Vincent de Paul Food Drive. Our Drive ends tomorrow, Friday, January 29th.
• To Mrs. Wiegand for organizing our Beginning and Advanced Drama Club for the Spring. Special thanks to Mrs. Cate who is our parent moderator for the advanced class.

FROM CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Help Families in Haiti Devastated by Massive Earthquake
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake has ravaged the island nation of Haiti. The quake occurred 10 miles southwest of the Haitian capital of Port‐au‐Prince just before 5pm EST. Port‐au‐Prince, with a population of over 2 million, has been devastated. CRS Country Representative Karel Zelenka reports that “Port‐au‐Prince was covered with a plume of dust from damaged buildings. We should be prepared for many thousands of dead and injured.”

Catholic Relief Services is responding to this disaster. We are committed to helping our brothers and sisters as they struggle to come to grips with this tragedy. CRS is mobilizing food and gearing up our emergency capacity, and deploying prepositioned emergency shelter and hygiene kits in Haiti, as well as bringing supplies in from the neighboring Dominican Republic.

For more than 60 years, we have been helping people as they struggle to survive natural disasters. CRS is committed to bringing our experience—and our compassion—to quickly and effectively respond to this string of emergencies. And we are just as committed to being there long after the headlines fade, helping communities build back in a way that ensures they are better equipped to handle future shocks.

But we cannot do this critical work without your help. The needs will be tremendous. Please give generously to help the thousands of victims on the wake of this disaster and restore their hope as they dig out of the rubble to rebuild their communities—and their lives.

How to Help:
Donate via phone: 1‐877‐HELP‐CRS
Donate online: www.crs.org
Write a check: Catholic Relief Services (Memo portion of check: Haiti Earthquake)
P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, Maryland 21203‐7090

FROM GUIDANCE
Johns Hopkins CTY will be holding a special testing for the SAT exam on February 6, 2010 at Longfellow Middle School (2000 Westmoreland St. Falls Church, VA). CTY is providing this special testing opportunity to students in grades 7 and 8 who are interested in participating in the CTY Talent Search. The deadline for registering is January 29th.  Please check Mrs. Polan's webpage on the Teacher Pages for more information.

SCIENCE FAIR COORDINATOR/JUDGES NEEDED
We are in need of volunteers to judge the school science fair. It will be held on February 26th from 12-2:30pm in the Daniel & Lorraine Sprissler Gymnasium. A flyer has been sent home today requesting your assistance. Please consider helping out with this special 7th and 8th grade science activity. We are also in need of one or two individuals to coordinate the judging of the student project categories. Special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Kent who helped to coordinate this event last year. Please call Mr. DiPippa at 703-273-1211, ext.644 or email Ddipippa@saintleothegreatschool.org if you are able to give some time to the worthwhile middle school activity. Thank you for your help. Last year Saint Leo the Great placed first in the Diocesan-wide Science Fair held at Paul VI High School. We are very, very proud of that accomplishment. Thanks again to Mr. Abraham for all his hard work. If you are able to help us, please return the flyer to the front office as soon as possible. Thank you.

7TH & 8TH GRADE SCIENCE DISPLAY BACKBOARDS AND FOLDER
The school has purchased science backboards and folders for the science fair at a discount rate of $7.00 for both. Students may pick up these boards at the end of the day in the science room with their check. Check should be made out to Saint Leo the Great. Starting Tuesday, they will be sold in the book store.

UNIFORM REMINDERS
Girls- We are half way through the school year! It's time to check how tall you have gotten since August! Please make sure your skirt reaches your knees. We will be checking to make sure the length is appropriate for school.
Boys- Your hair should be cut so that it does not touch the collar of your shirt, does not fall below your eyebrows and does not go past the tops of your ears. Thank you.

PE UNIFORM REMINDER
Please remember that the PE winter uniform includes sweatshirt and sweatpants (K-5) and either the wind pants and jacket or sweatshirt and sweatpants (6-8) – no combinations allowed! Students must have their pants and sweatshirt/jacket on when they come to school and when they travel from class to class. Students may ask their teacher for permission to remove the sweatshirt/jacket when they arrive in class, but should put it back on before moving to the next classroom. PE pants may be removed during PE class only, with permission from Mr. Allen, but must be put back on before leaving the gym.

FUTURE OPEN HOUSES
are going to be held at Saint Leo the Great School on the following days:

• Sunday January 31st, 12:45-2:30pm- Principal’s Welcome - Daniel & Lorraine Sprissler Gymnasium.
• Friday, February 26th -10am in the Guadalupe Room with Principal’s Welcome
• Wednesday, March 17th - 10am in the Guadalupe Room with Principal’s Welcome

A tour of the school will follow all presentations. Please call 703-273-1211 x645 for a reservation. Please let your friends and neighbors know our new dates.

Financial Aid – School Year 2010-2011
The Diocese of Arlington is please to provide a Tuition Assistance Program for parents of students attending our Diocesan Catholic schools. Interested parents are asked to submit the student aid application form, as well as a processing fee of $25 to FACTS Management Company. FACTS is the company contracted by the Diocese of Arlington to provide a confidential and objective financial analysis in determining a family’s ability to pay for Catholic School education.

In order to become eligible for receiving funds from this program, K-12 students (preschool is not eligible) must satisfy all of the criteria described below:

• A baptized Catholic or convert officially received into the Church
• Family resides within the boundaries of the Diocese of Arlington
• Family is registered and an active member of the parish or
• Family belongs to a military post parish
• Student attends or is accepted by a Catholic school in the Diocese of Arlington.

The funds from the program will be paid directly to the school that the qualifying student attends. Schools will then credit the tuition accounts for those families who have been approved to receive aid for that school year. When submitting your application, please be sure to answer all the questions on the student aid form and include all the documentation requested in the instructions. Applications can also be completed online (www.factstuitionaid.com). The deadlines for filing applications are January 22, 2010 for high school tuition and grant program, and March 5, 2010 for elementary tuition and grant program. A packet of information and its program is also available in the front office.

FROM THE PTO
Thanks to all of you who came out to the PTO Golf Tournament Kickoff last night!  Your enthusiasm for this important PTO event will ensure its success.  And a huge THANK YOU to Mr. Tom McGovern, this year's Golf Chairman.  His impressive organizational and planning skills are certainly heaven-sent, and his stepping up to volunteer as chair is an answer to our prayers!

Mark your calendars!  The first PTO General Membership Meeting for the 2009-2010 school year is on Thursday, February 18, 2010, from 7pm to 9pm in the Guadalupe Room in Olde Parish Hall.  This meeting is the first General Membership Meeting we've had in a while.  They have not been scheduled because few people showed up in the past.  Let's change that trend and fill up the room!  Come and find out what's happening with your PTO.  Please send you suggestions for agenda items to saintleopto@saintleothegreatschool.org before Monday, February 8, 2010.  Be on the look-out for the agenda starting Thursday, February 11.

Do what you would normally do and help out the PTO!  There are several ways you can help! Did you know that you can help the PTO and St. Leo's simply by doing what you are already doing?  So far, this year, we have earned $190 from Chick-fil-a, $220 from Fuddruckers, $90 from Let’s Dish and $160 from Five Below...simply by families shopping or eating at these local businesses.  Here are some other ways for you to help:

-Buying Groceries: Every early-dismissal Friday, a Knight from the Knights of Columbus will be available during afternoon carpool for you to purchase "scrip" from your favorite grocery stores, like Giant, Safeway, Bloom and Shoppers.  The Knights get part of the proceeds of these sales and generously donate some of their portion to the PTO.  Bring your checkbooks to carpool or pay cash!  Use the handy order form on the St. Leo’s web site under PTO > Forms.  Using grocery scrip can also help you budget your grocery dollars better since you can time your purchase to when your paychecks come in and better track how much you're spending!

- Preparing Freezer-Ready Meals in Advance for those busy nights: Prepare homemade meals ahead of time at Let's Dish!  This fundraiser has been extended through April, simply by using promotion code F9-SLTG when you sign up at www.letsdish.com.  Making meals at Let's Dish is fun, and the more the merrier, so feel free to share the promotion code with your friends and family.  The "Parent and Kid" sessions are a great way to involve your children in meal preparation and planning and a wonderful activity for Scouts. You can also enjoy some adult time with friends and make it a “Mom’s Night Out!” Please contact Suzanne Dowd with any questions or if you are interested in planning a group session. Forms are available on the school website.

- Eating out and socializing with your St. Leo's friends:   What could be easier or more fun?  Be on the look out for Dinner Out events coming soon at Red, Hot & Blue (January 27 & 28), Baja Fresh, Coyote Grill, Fuddruckers, Chick-fil-a, and Ledo Pizza!

COLD WEATHER IS HERE!
Now that the cold weather is definitely here, please ensure that your child wears warm outer clothing to school, appropriate for winter temperatures. We all want them to stay warm when going outside for morning or lunch recess. Thank you!

Inclement Weather/School Closings
When the Fairfax County Schools are closed because of hazardous road conditions, Saint Leo the Great School is also closed. If Fairfax County makes a change in the opening or closing of school due to weather conditions, Saint Leo the Great does the same. It is the parent/guardian's responsibility to consult first the school website, or listen to the radio or TV for this information. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL. In cases of inclement weather, or other non-weather related emergencies, and the cancellation of classes once school is in session, calls from the children to the parents/guardians will be discouraged. Since our school is air-conditioned, we DO NOT FOLLOW Fairfax County School closings due to intense heat.
If Fairfax County Schools are not in session and Saint Leo the Great is in session, first consult the school website or listen to WMAL 630 AM or WTOP 103.5 FM, channel 4, channel 8, channel 9, and channel 7 for any school closings or adjustments in opening times.

Delayed Openings
Kindergarten through Grade 8

• If there is a ONE HOUR DELAYED OPENING ON ANY 11:30AM OR 12:10PM DISMISSAL DAY, classes are dismissed at 12:10PM.
• If there is a TWO HOUR DELAYED OPENING ON ANY 11:30AM, 12:10PM, or 1:40PM EARLY DISMISSAL DAY, classes are dismissed at 3:00PM. Please be sure to send a lunch and drink with your child if it would have been a regular 11:30AM or 12:10PM dismissal day since neither lunch nor milk is provided on those days.)

Extended Day Program
The Extended Day Program always opens one hour before school:

• Delay of one hour: open at 7:50AM
• Delay of two hours: open at 8:50AM

When school closes early all children must be picked up from the Extended Day Program within two hours of dismissal. Parents/guardians are responsible for listening to the radio or T.V. for announcements.

If Fairfax County cancels after school activities, the Extended Day Program will close within two hours of dismissal.

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

• THIS WEEKEND JANUARY 23rd- Alice in Wonderland Father-Daughter Dance - Sponsored by the Girl Scouts of Saint Leo’s. Dance is from 7-9pm. Cost is $15.00 per couple and $5. for each additional daughter. For more information, please contact Beth Ward at 703.273.6289, or billyjoe@cox.net.
• JANUARY 30 – PVI – All 8th graders and their families are invited to be our guest for dinner and two varsity basketball games. 4:15pm – Varsity Girl’s Basketball in the Activity Center (complementary tickets will be available at the door) 5:30pm-Dinner - Join PVI coaches and players from all of our athletic teams for pizza and soda. You will have ample time to ask questions and learn about the exciting world of PVI sports. 6:00pm – Varsity Boy’s Basketball in the Activity Center (complementary tickets will be available at the door) Parents and 8th Graders should feel free to attend all or part of the evening. RSVP to ehanley@paulvi.net
• BEFORE FEB 1ST- FAIRFAX LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL 2009 SPRING REGISTRATION IS OPEN. Registrations for AA-Juniors and February 16th for T-BALL, Single A and Seniors receive a $25 discount. You may register online at www.fairfaxll.com.
• FEBRUARY 2-3-4 - PROSPECTIVE TEACHER OPEN HOUSE: If you are interested in teaching for the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Arlington, there are three Open Houses being held in February. Please come and learn about the opportunities and advantages of teaching in our Catholic Schools. No registration is required. On February 2nd at St. Thomas More Cathedral School in Arlington, from 7-9pm. On February 3rd, at St. Francis of Assisi School in Triangle Virginia from 1-3pm, and on February 4 from 1-3pm at All Saints School in Manassas, Virginia.
• FEBRUARY 6 – O’Connell Cheerleading Clinic, 9-12pm—Ages 9-14 Required signed consent form and $30 fee which includes clinic, t-shirt and pizza. Enter Upper Gym (entrance 8). Please register no later than 1-19-10 at diocheerleading@gmail.com. Parent invited for performance & pizza 11:30am-12pm.
• JUNE 21-25/JULY 26-30 - Paul VI Boys & Girls Basketball Camp $190.00 per camper -- Camp is for rising 3rd - 9th graders. Please contact Scott Allen at coachsallen@aol.com for further information and registration. Camp discounts available per camper for attending two or three camps.
• JUNE 28-JULY 1/JULY 19-22 - St Leo the Great Basketball Camp for Boys & Girls – Mini Hoopster Camps: Boys 9 am - 12 pm - Girls 1 pm - 4 pm....$100.00 per camper.  Camp is for rising 1st - 3rd graders from all schools.  Please contact Scott Allen at coachsallen@aol.com for further information and registration.
• JULY 12-16 – St Leo the Great Basketball Camp for Boys and girls rising 3rd grade to 9th grade from all schools. $190 per camper. Please contact Scott Allen at coachsallen!aol.com for further information and registration