Between the Lions - April 29, 2010

PRINCIPAL'S REFLECTION
Thank you to all the parents that voted in our PTO election this week. I want to personally thank our PTO Board members this year for all their hard work: President: Larry McGrail, Vice President: Jennifer Conroy, Recording Secretary: Mary Knapp, Corresponding Secretary: Theresa Ketron, Treasurer: Kim Pham, Officer at Large: Suzanne Dowd, Volunteer Coordinator: Colleen MacKay, Assistants: Nancy Weigand and Mizuho Akiba. Special thanks to the outgoing Board Members for all their very hard work these past two years: Kim Pham, Suzanne Dowd and Mary Knapp. We welcome our new officers: Secretary: Katie Wilson, Treasurer: Colleen MacKay, Director of Community Needs: Theresa Ketron, Director of Fund Raising: Julie Clinch, Director of Volunteer Activities: Nancy Wiegand. A transition meeting will be held in May to plan for our upcoming school year.

Thursday, May 13th, marks the mid-quarter of the 4th grading period. Progress reports will be sent home for students in grades 1-8. I would ask parents to review these reports with your children. Praise their accomplishments and encourage them in areas of needed growth. Please return signed progress reports by Tuesday, May 18th to your homeroom teacher or advisor.

On behalf of all of us here at Saint Leo the Great Catholic School, I want to thank everyone who is able to attend or support the annual auction dinner tomorrow evening. It will be a wonderful time for all of us to gather together to celebrate the wonderful things our school has to offer as well as an opportunity to support the school as we continue to provide our students with the excellent academic experience they deserve. There are many people who have worked long and hard to make this night both fun and rewarding. In particular: Leanna Furey, chair of the Development Committee, Patricia Dudley, Chair of the Auction Dinner Gala and in addition: Julie Gladbach, Laura Morillo, Ginny Cate, Terry Hope, Joanne McCarty, Michelle Baldacci, Cynthia Washington, Theresa Ferlotti, Joanne DeMarco, Kim Notarianni, Lynn Betack, Lou Hartnett, Laura Morillo, Erin Cooke, Vicki Toenshoff, Kristin Bolster, Mary Beth Crosson, Suzanne Main and Mr. Mike Hedderson.

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

THANKS & PRAISE

• Oops, one of our outstanding students was left off the list of those being inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. Congratulations to Maily P!
• To Mrs. Dowd- for organizing our first fundraiser at Baja Fresh--we had a fantastic turnout which helped us earn $351.49 for the PTO.  Thanks for your support!
• To Mrs. Clinch and 7th and 8th grade parent chaperones, for all their time and effort for a successful 8th grade dance. Special thanks to Mrs. Schnabel and Mrs. Wilson in the front office for all their support with the dance paperwork.
• To the parent volunteers from Mr. Abraham, Mrs. Mead and Mrs. Cosgriff’s advisories for planning and helping at our Middle School Passport Party. Special thanks to Mrs. Polan for helping coordinating the passport parties this year.

Congratulations to the following students who placed at the annual Diocesan Science fair this past weekend. Special thanks to Mr. Abraham who prepared them so well for this special opportunity. They include:

• Zoology, Connor T earned an honorable mention
• Microbiology, Sabrina I earned an honorable mention
• Engineering, Emily E won 2nd Place
• Computer Science, Olivia S won 3rd Place
• Botany, Jessica O won honorable mention
• Biochemistry, Caley G won honorable mention
• Behavioral Science, Joseph T won 3rd Place

TO ALL PARENTS WHO USE AREA II AT ANY TIME
Please note that Extended Day and Track and Field use the parking lot after school is dismissed.  Parents please do not move the chain or cones to enter Area II.  Please park in front of the Church beyond the speed bump instead to pick up your child from whatever activity they might be attending.   Please help keep all of our children safe!

ART FAIR - MAY 4th
Please return the RSVP by Friday, April 30th. An RSVP is a reservation to borrow a frame; it is not a commitment to purchase. Frames will be for sale that evening and all proceeds will go to improve the Ceramics portion of our art program.
One new item: There will be table during the fair where students can enter their designs for the fall Golf Tournament. The winning design will be used as the logo for the Tournament's 50/50 raffle tickets. The winning artist will receive a prize from the Golf Committee. See you at the Fair!

From the Computer Lab... Internet Safety
In these days of cell phones, text messages, social networking (Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, etc.) and frequent Internet use, it's more important than ever to monitor our children's cyberspace activities. Here are some tips on how to help your children keep safe:

• Remind your child(ren) that NOTHING on the Internet is truly private, despite so-called “Privacy Settings.” Once something is on the Internet, it is there forever.
• Keep computers in “high-traffic” areas of the home, such as the kitchen, tv room, den, etc.
• Stress to your child(ren) to NEVER give out or post personal information (full name, address, phone number, photos, etc) without parent or guardian permission.
• Remember that people on-line might not be who they say there are. If someone says they are a 12-year-old girl, they could really be an older man.
• Posting, emailing, or texting mean things about other people is considered “cyber-bullying”.
• Tell your child(ren) that if they come across anything on the Internet that makes them feel sad or uncomfortable in any way, they should show you immediately. Assure them that you are supporting them.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Allis. Her email is pallis@saintleothegreatschool.org

FROM EXTENDED DAY:
April bill will be ready for pick up from Extended Day on Monday, May 3rd. Please note on Tuesday, May 4, there WILL BE Extended Day available.

FROM THE PTO

• The PTO sponsored Carnival Is Coming to Saint Leo's!!! May 22nd 11am to 3pm (rain Date June 5th). Fun for the entire family! Rides, Games, Dunking Booth, Popcorn, Cotton Candy, Make your own Pucker Powder, Snow Cones, Drinks and more! All day pass (pre-purchase) $10.00 per person or $15.00 at the door. All Day Pass includes all rides, games and dunking booth--Come and see who you can dunk! Tickets for concessions, drinks, souvenirs, and rides (if you do not want to purchase the all day pass) are $1.00 each. They will be available pre-purchase and at the door. Ticket/All Day Pass Orders--RETURN by May 14th, 2010. Questions??? Contact Pam Morrison at bempsmsjm@yahoo.com or Katie Blanchard at Katie_blanchard@verizon.net. Click here (PDF) for a copy of the flyer that was sent home.
• VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! The Carnival is coming to town on May 22nd! Be among the first to sign up for the first-ever event of its kind at St. Leo's. We ask for your help in order to make this a fun-filled time for the entire family. Both moms and dads are needed. To volunteer, email Lori Swanberg at LMSwanberg@gmail.com. In advance, we thank you for making this a memorable event for all of our children.

Saint Leo School, in partnership with the PTO
is seeking volunteers to become “welcome family buddies”. These families would be partners for new St. Leo Families who either transfer or begin Kindergarten for the first time. As you may remember, coming to a new school it is often difficult learning the ins & outs and we would like to do as much as possible to make new families feel at home quickly. If you volunteer, your family will be paired with a new family by the school. We provided some suggestions and guidelines to working with a buddy family in the attachment on this email to understand what volunteering entails. If you are interested in being a welcome family, please fill out the volunteer form in PDF or Word 2003 and return it to school to Mrs. Washington. You may print it out or email it to cwashington@saintleothegreatschool.org. Thank you!

SAVE THE DATE!!!!
PTO Fall Golf Outing will be held on Thursday, October 7th at the Westfield’s Country Club, starting at 11:30am. For sponsor opportunities, as well as a link to register for the event, please go to www.golfdigestplanner.com/14251-stleogolf.

PRESCHOOL OPENINGS
If you need an application or information for you or for a friend call me Bianca Figueiredo at 703)273-1211 ext 652.

• MAY 1 – 7PM - “PANTHER ALL STAR CASINO NIGHT” Wear your favorite player's or team jersey and join us for an evening of fun, friendship, gambling, food and drink in the Activity Center. Register at WWW.PVI.NET-click Casino Night, print and mail in the registration form, or click on the 2nd pair of RED DICE to register on line. For additional information, please contact Suzanne Knight at Suzanneknight@verizon.net or Katy Mahoney at kmahoney@eckertseamons.com.
• MAY 1ST - CALLING ALL BOYS & GIRLS WHO LOVE TO SING!! AUDITION FOR THE CHILDREN’S CHORUS OF WASHINGTON! Call NOW (202) 237-1005 to schedule an audition!! - Auditions are held by appointment only. First date is May 1st. Open to boys and girls with unchanged voices, ages 9-16. Auditions are easy – no preparation or experience is necessary to audition, just a love of singing! Tuition scholarships are provided to all students in need. CCW was founded by Joan Gregoryk -- CCW choristers have exciting and prestigious performance opportunities, including domestic and international tours, and performances with the NSO and adult professional choruses at venues like the Kennedy Center and Strathmore. Auditions and twice weekly rehearsals take place at Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church in Washington, DC (across from American University) www.childrenschorus.com
• MAY 19 – City of Fairfax Police in conjunction with the Optimist Club will be offering Safe Assured identification kits between the hours of 12 PM and 6 PM at the City of Fairfax Police Department. Parents will receive a full color photo ID and a mini-CD that contains digital fingerprints, a digital photo, video showing movement and mannerisms, a general physical description, vital personal information, and a family code word. Private information is encrypted and accessible only by law enforcement. A missing person poster can be created and printed directly from the mini-CD in English, Spanish and French. These identifications kits can also be used as a valuable aid for adults with special needs. The Safe Assured ID kits are free and an appointment is necessary. Please call Sergeant Pam Nevlud at 703 385-7966 for further information.
• SPORTS CAMPS AT PAUL VI - includes: Boys & Girls Basketball, Cheer, Dance, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse (girls), Boys & Girls Soccer, Softball, Volleyball and Wrestling. Go to www.paulvi.net website under current students and parent link and go camp brochures/information.
• 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 1- 9-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
• JULY 12-23 - Summer Experience for Middle Schoolers - Expand your horizons this summer with one and two-week programs for rising 7th, 8th, and 9th graders at O'Connell HS. Signup for the Leadership Academy, The World Around Us, or the Performing Arts program. For more info, visit http://www.bishopoconnell.org/summerexperience or call 703-929-3519