Between the Lions - January 28, 2010
“Dividends for Life”
| Sunday 1/31/10 |
“Parish Day” Catholic Schools Week begins with an 11am Student Government led Mass. Open House for interested families from 12:45-2:30 sponsored by Administration and Parish Development Office. 12:45pm Principal’s Welcome at Daniel & Lorraine Sprissler Gymnasium, Tour of School to Follow |
| Monday 2/1/10 |
“School Day” Daily Morning Readings over the WLEO TV station that focuses on Catholic Values/Traditions and Service (Pennies for Patients) NJHS 2:00pm K-8 Living Rosary Assembly for students led by Fr. Baez Faculty & Staff Breakfast Provided by the Cub Scouts |
| Tuesday 2/2/10 |
“Student Day” Daily Morning Readings over the WLEO TV station that focuses on Catholic Values/Traditions and Service. Values/Traditions and Service (Pennies for Patients) NJHS Faculty & Staff Breakfast Provided by the Cub Scouts Student, Faculty and Staff Dress Down Day No Homework, Tests or Quizzes for Wednesday K thought 5th special afternoon class activity PTO Skate Event-Fairfax Ice Arena 4:30-5:45pm Cupcakes distributed to students at lunch |
| Wednesday 2/3/10 |
“Patriotic Day” Daily Morning readings over the WLEO TV station that focuses on Catholic Values/Traditions and Service. Values/Traditions and Service (Pennies for Patients) NJHS Lunch for Faculty & Staff provided by the Girl Scouts Afternoon Activity-Classes buddy-up and make Valentines for the men and women serving overseas in our military. |
| Thursday 2/4/10 |
“Clergy-Staff-Parent Day” Daily Morning readings over the WLEO TV station that focuses on CatholicValues/Traditions and Service. Values/Traditions and Service (Pennies for Patients) NJHS 10am-K-4 Assembly – Sr. Bernadette McManigal, BVM, Superintendent of Catholic Schools. 10:45 Gr.5-8 Assembly – Sr. Bernadette McManigal, BVM, Superintendent of Schools. 2pm Diocesan Spelling Bee for grades 7 & 8 – Daniel & Lorraine Sprissler Gymnasium – Parents Welcome Grades 3-6 class Spelling Bee winners recognized by teachers. Teachers and Staff providing special thank you for Priests and maintenance staff Student thank you activity for Parents |
| Friday 2/5/10 |
“Grandparent Day” 8:10am – Reception for Grandparents –Daniel & Lorraine Sprissler Gymnasium 9am – Mass – hosted by NJHS 10:00am – 3rd grade Music and 7th & 8th grade Chorus Program For Grandparents 10:30-11:30am- Grandparent Classroom Visits 12:10pm Dismissal |
CALENDAR REMINDERS- JANUARY
NJHS Pennies for Patients Service Activity All Week
| Monday | 1 | I | DEADLINE for Art Club registration, Grs. 5-8 3-4pm Winter/Spring Chess Club-Parish Hall |
| Tuesday | 2 | O | Cupcake drop off at morning carpool for distribution at student’s lunch. Dress Down Day for Students, Faculty and Staff |
| Wednesday | 3 | N | |
| Thursday | 4 | L | 3-4:15pm-Advanced Drama Club Grs.2-3-4-Guadalupe Rm 3-4:15pm-Beginning Drama Club-Grs. 2-3-4-Music Room 3-3:45pm-8th Gr. Spanish Review for HS exemption exam-Vianney Ctr 3-4pm-Yearbook Club meeting-computer room |
| Friday | 5 | S-1 | Extended Advisory 12:10pm DISMISSAL-Extended Day from 12:10-6pm 12:10-1:25pm-Math Mania Activity Begins-Grs.4 & 5-rm 21 1pm- Faculty Meeting - Library |
PRINCIPAL'S REFLECTION
Heavenly Father, we than You for these men and women who teach and serve in our schools. We ask You, Father, that You would give them words filled with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that they may know how they should respond to the broken-hearted children, to a rebellious teen, a concerned parent.
May their words be words that are helpful, for building others up according to their needs. We pray Father that you would give them a spirit, like eagle wings, to fearlessly soar across the paths of many with the message of God’s love.
Father, we pray that you teach them to number their days and recognize how few they are, help them to spend them as they should.
Father, we pray that these men and women may walk in a manner worth of the God who calls them to their important positions.
Let each of these men and women be a “collector.” May they find time to walk through the halls of the school giving a hug or a reassuring smile to a child. Let them not be afraid to put their arms around someone or hold a hand, as if to say, “It will be okay.” Father, let not the paperwork becomes so heavy as to crush their “spirit of giving.”
And Father, forget them not; for they too are human. Send someone to cross their path to say a cherry “good morning…” that really means “I’m glad you’re here!” And a teacher or a child who would say, “Guess what I did…” which really means, “I’d like to share this with you because you’re important to me.”
But most important, send them with a loving touch. Send them the hand that understands for it was pierced. Send them that hand that hugged small children, taught the wise and calmed the sea.
Send them, Father, the loving hand of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
In Jesus’ name we pray for them.
Amen
As Always, for the children,
Mr. David DiPippa, Principal
INCLEMENT WEATHER ALERT
Fairfax County Schools are closed on Friday and Monday. 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.
THANKS & PRAISE
- To Clara Robertello and Katie Blanchard for their help with yearbook club, team and candid photos last week.
- To Mrs. White, Mrs. Lyle and the NJHS for organizing our Pennies for Patients Kick-off Assembly.
- To the parents, faculty, staff and students who participated in the March for Life.
- To Mrs. Hardy for organizing our fun-filled Colonial Day. Also thank you to Mrs. Dowd, Mrs. Morrison, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. McCarty, Mrs. Crosson, Mrs. Budzynski, Mrs. Nguyen, Mrs. Blanchard and Mrs. Vendrell-Henson for providing a delicious snack for Colonial Days. Thank you also to all the parents who were there to lend a helping hand as needed.
- To all the parents who have volunteered to be judges for the 7th and 8th grade Science Fair—we are still In need of more volunteers (see below).
- To Mrs. Lynn Williams who has volunteered to moderate our afterschool Mad Science of Washington Club.
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 JUDGES NEEDED
We are still 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 requesting your assistance. Please consider helping out with this special 7th and 8th grade science activity. Special thanks to Mrs. Gormley who will coordinate the event this year. 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. As we are still in need of judges, and If you are able to help us, please return the flyer to the front office immediately. Thank you.
QUIZ BOWL
Get ready for an evening of fun!! Come to St. Leo's Annual Quiz Bowl, Saturday, March 6th from 7-9:30pm. If you are new to school or have never played Quiz Bowl; this event involves groups (teams of 8-10) completing against each other to answer trivia questions. Coffee and dessert are provided - players are invited to bring their own food and drinks. Doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets are $100 a table or $14 a person. Individuals will be placed on a team with other individuals. For more information or to help out please contact Kristin & Evan Bolster - 703-569-1830 or jacksmom@teacher.com
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.
FUTURE OPEN HOUSES
are going to be held at Saint Leo the Great School on the following days:
- THIS WEEKEND 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.
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.
AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE FAIFFAX COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
The Fairfax County Health Department and the Virginia Department of Health have entered a new phase the H1N1 vaccination campaign, reminding everyone that it's not too late to get vaccinated. H1N1 Vaccine is now widely available and offered daily, free of charge, at our five health department district offices located throughout Fairfax County. H1N1 clinic locations and schedule are posted at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/flu.
ST. LEO CHOIR ON TV AT NATIONAL SHRINE
Thanks to Sylvia Mulherin, In November, the St. Leo Junior and Youth choir groups were invited to sing at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. They sang for two Masses, both of which will be televised soon. The Sunday Mass dates that they are singing this Sunday, are Jan. 31 and Feb. 14 at 10:30am. The channel to watch is the WDCW (CW50) channel, which can be found on channel 3, 33, or 50, depending on your cable network provider. The children did a wonderful job.
FROM THE PTO
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.
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.)
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.
- THIS WEEKEND 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