Between the Lions - March 11, 2010

CALENDAR REMINDERS-  MARCH
Saint Vincent dePaul Food Drive All Week

PRINCIPAL'S REFLECTION
I hope the warm weather is here to stay! With that in mind, please take note of the end of the year June calendar changes which are located on our website: www.saintleothegreatschool.org. The school year will be extended to June 18th and several half-days, in June, will now become full days of school – we have already added some time back in February and March by extending early dismissal days to full days of school. Please note that the 8th grade graduation will remain as planned for Wednesday, June 9, however; the Kindergarten graduation has been moved to Wednesday, June 16th. Please be advised that the Virginia Legislature is considering a possible waiver on the number of make-up days/times. Maryland Department of Education and Legislature announced this week to change/waive some of their snow make-up days. We will follow the decisions of the Office of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Arlington and the Virginia State Department of Education’s requirements if this is announced and any changes are need to be made to our school calendar. Thank you for your patience as we work through this decision-making process.

It was nice to see so many parents, faculty and staff at our PTO sponsored Quiz Bowl last Saturday evening. It is always a special time when we gather as a school community. I appreciate all the organizers for all their efforts in putting this activity together – that’s what makes Saint Leo the Great School a special place to be!

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

THANKS & PRAISE

• To Jose O. grade 8, who was a runner-up in the diocesan-wide spelling bee last Saturday -- he made us proud!
• To the organizers of our wonderful Quiz Bowl last Saturday evening… thanks for a great evening! Mr. & Mrs. Bolster, Mr. & Mrs. Washington, Mr. and Mrs. Craven, Mr. & Mrs. White, Mr. & Mrs. Kayne, Ms. Gumoski, Mrs. Furey and Mrs. Ruta – it was a great evening.
• To Mrs. Schouviller and the 4th grade students for organizing our school-wide mass last Friday. Special thanks to Kathy White for providing the beautiful music for this mass and directing our 4th grade choir.
• To Mrs. Cosgriff and 7th grade parent volunteers for their help in driving and chaperoning our trip to Windswept Farms this past Monday.
• To Mrs. Sloboda and Mrs. Korka for their help in accompanying our 8th students to the Diocesan Vocations Mass at Holy Spirit last Wednesday.
• To all the faculty, staff, students and parents who have donated food items for the St. Vincent de Paul food drive to help the needy in our community. Your generosity is very much appreciated.
• To Mr. Abraham for organizing our 6th grade science field trip today to TC Williams High School Planetarium. Special thanks to Mr. Hedderson and Mrs. Polan for chaperoning this educational trip with us.
• To Mrs. Craven, Mrs. Ruta and all the parent volunteers for our successful book fair this past week.

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. Please see Parent/Student Handbook (page 72) for acceptable attire for our out of uniform days.

OPEN HOUSE
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 Readings and Rituals of Holy Week
Father Whitestone is presenting a two-part series on Holy Week. The series will take place on Tuesday, March 9th, and Tuesday, March 16th, at 7:30 pm in the St. John Room in Parish Hall. Come learn more about this most important week of the liturgical year. Prepare your hearts and minds to more fully enter in to the mysteries of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. For more information, please contact Carolyn Smith at carolynsmith.stleos@gmail.com or 703-273-7277.

St. Leo the Great 2010 Auction
Tickets are now on sale for this year’s “Bringing the World to Our Children” Auction Gala.  This year’s Dinner, Silent and Live Auction will be held Friday, April 30 at the International Country Club in Fairfax, time to be announced. For tickets and registration please visit the auction website: https://stleosch.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/BRINGINGTHEWORLDTOOURCHILDREN/tabid/191480/Default.aspx. Questions regarding donations or sponsorships should be directed to Patty Dudley at StLeosAuction2010@verizon.net.

Rice Bowl Lenten Collection
The Rice Bowl Lenten Collection through school will continue until Friday March 26, 2010. If your family has participated in the school rice bowl collection, please have your student return his/her rice bowl to the classroom on or before Friday March 26th. Thank you

SCHOOL PICTURE DAY
is scheduled for Friday, March 26th. School pictures are provided as service to our school parents and are also a valuable fundraiser for the school. A picture order form is being sent home with each student today. Please complete the envelope and have your child return it to his homeroom/homebase teacher before picture day. Extra flyers are available at the front office.

FROM THE KITCHEN
April lunch calendars went home this week and are due back on Monday, March 15th. Lunch Credit Slips for the February snowstorm days and Ash Wednesday were handed out with the calendar, given to the youngest/only in the family. These are handed as one slip per family and good towards the April lunch order. If they are not used, they are forfeited. If you did not receive a slip, then that means we do not have a record of you buying lunches on those days. Contact Mrs. Cate for questions or concerns.

FROM THE PTO
Please join the PTO and the 8th grade class for a mid-winter Ice Cream Social on Saturday, March 20th from 6:30 to 8:30pm in the school gym. Ice Cream, Popcorn, Media Sale and games for the whole family!

PENNIES FOR PATIENTS
Final total: $2240.39—outstanding!

PRESCHOOL OPENINGS
Tell a friend, tell a neighbor that Preschool still have a few openings available. Please contact Mrs. Figueiredo at 703-273-1211, ext. 652.

EXTENDED DAY
February bills went home with your child on Thursday, March, 4th. Please, remind your child to pack a pair of tennis shoes to wear at Extended Day. School shoes are not allowed in the gym.

BOX TOPS
Please send in your coupons! I will be making the last deposit of this school year on March, 30th.

• MARCH 26,27,28 – “INTO THE WOODS” spring play at O’Connell High School. March 26th & 27th at 7:30pm, 28th at 2 o’clock. General Admission $10/person. Students & seniors $5/person.
• 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.
• JUNE 28-JULY 1- Bishop O’Connell Soccer Camp, for ages 8-14,at Tuckahoe Park, 9am-3pm $200. Questions or registration: djosoccercamp@verizon.net or 703/894.8844.

• 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