Saint Leo the Great Catholic School

PRINCIPAL’S REFLECTION
Next school week (March 23-27) marks the last five days of the third quarter. Please remind students to check with their teachers to see if they have any outstanding assignments that need to be turned in. Students should always prepare in advance for any quiz or test and be sure projects and homework are turned in on time. If they need assistance in any subject, they should contact the individual teacher to set up a time to review or answer any questions. If you need to contact individual teachers, please do so via email. Together we can help our students to continue to “Grow in Grace and Wisdom.”

During the month of March, the PTO begins to set its course for the upcoming school year. The first step by the PTO nominating committee will be to present a nominated slate of officers for this coming school year. Presently, we will have four openings for next year on the Board. As the PTO does their work, it is often not easy to recruit parents to take on the responsibilities necessary to keep an active PTO. I want to make a personal plea for participation in the PTO. Without the partnership between the school and PTO, Saint Leo the Great School would not be the outstanding Blue Ribbon School that your children enjoy and deserve. Through fund-raising efforts such as the upcoming golf outing and dinner auction, and the generosity of parents, the PTO has provided many enhancements and activities for the total school program. Thank you in advance for your consideration to be a part of this organization. More information on the nominating slate of officers will be forthcoming through the PTO. Please contact a member if you wish to serve or nominate an individual. For more details on the golf outing and dinner/auction, please go to the school website, www.saintleothegreatschool.org.

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

CONGRATULATIONS
Sam Sloboda born Friday, March 6th to Mrs. Sami Sloboda
Isaac Klontz born Monday, March 16th to Mrs. Janet Klontz
-"There is no greater joy than that of the birth of a new baby and the joy that God bestows on the new parents!"

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach meFor you are God my Savior,…”
-Psalm 25:4-5

Thanks & Praise

• Thank you to Lee Cena and his committee for a fabulous Quiz Bowl last Saturday evening. Special thanks to Mrs. Vicki Holleran for planning and organizing all the details. Next year’s hosts will be the team composed of the Bolsters, Cravens, Whites, Kaynes and Washingtons.
• To Caroline Muller for coordinating our St. Patrick Day Lunch treat. Special thanks to all the parents who sent in the cupcakes, the volunteers who were there in the morning carpool to accept the donations, and the volunteers who came at lunch to distribute all the cupcakes for our special celebration.
• To our “surprise leprechaun” who came to visit the students during our Saint Patrick Day Lunch. Was he the one that made all those cupcakes?
• Thank you to the following students who were Saint Leo the Great Ambassadors for our last Open House on Wednesday: Brian Daly, Julia Dunbar, Lauren Harkes, Jessica Ong, Christopher Robertello, Scott Roxbrough and Jake Salewski.
• Thank you to Mrs. Cosgriff and Mrs. LeBlanc for chaperoning the 8th grade trip to the Vocations Mass at Holy Spirit on Wednesday.
• Congratulations to all the athletes that are being recognized at the Awards Banquet for our Saint Leo the Great CYO Basketball League tonight. Special thanks to Commissioner Brian Gormley and all the coaches who have given much time for the success of this program.
• To the PTO Board, Mrs. Crosson, President and Mrs. Dowd for organizing the Chick-fil-A fund raiser and samples that were given out last week.
• To Mrs. Vicki Holleran for organizing the 8th grade T-shirts. They turned out to be wonderful. 8th grade students will be allowed to wear them for all spirit and PE days.

TO 7TH GRADE PARENTS
This year, some students in 8th grade participated in a study and test taking skill class for the HSPT (High School Placement Test). This was offered afterschool in the fall for eight weeks. An interest survey was given to your 7th grader yesterday. If you are interested, please return the survey to the front office by Monday, the 23rd. Mr. DiPippa will need to know if there is enough interest to run the class again.

ANNUAL ART SHOW
St Leo’s 3rd Annual Art Show and Fair is on May 5th from 5:30pm to 8:00pm. Your child’s artwork will be showcased in the Gym. During the event your child’s artwork will be framed and matted for display. This is part of a fundraiser for the PTO in conjunction with KidsArt Fairs. You may CHOOSE to purchase the frame and mat and 20% will come back to the school. However, this event is an opportunity for our parents to see our children’s artwork and purchasing any products is VOLUNTARY. Once the event is over the artwork is returned to your child to bring home. We look forward to seeing you at this wonderful event. Any questions please contact Pam Morrison at bempsmsjm@yahoo.com or 703-322-9696 or Kristin Bolster at kbolster@saintleothegreatschool.org

SPRING PORTRAITS
are going to be taken on Tuesday, March 31st. The students may wear “dress up” clothes equal to or better than the uniform. No jeans or sport clothing. Paperwork is going home in the Thursday folders to give you more information.

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL LENTEN FOOD DRIVE
will begin on Friday, March 20, 2009. With the theme, “Be rich in good works & ready to share” (1Timothy 6:18), we should be aware of the needs of others in our Church community, especially those who are struggling in some way at this time. All food donations of any type are appreciated. Some suggestions include: soups, macaroni, canned fruits and vegetables, crackers, cereals, pancake mix, canned tomato sauce, and canned meats and tuna.

During this Church season, we have the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Lenten practices of offering prayers to assist others and giving alms by providing food for those in need through our participation in this Lenten food pantry collection. Let’s fulfill our Christian promises by doing as Jesus did. Our drive continues until Friday, April 3.

Mark your calendars for the 2009 Auction Gala and Parent Social "Welcome Spring" to be held April 24th, 7—11pm at International Country Club.
Tickets are on sale now! Cost: $65/person. Visit: www.saintleothegreatschool.org and click on Auction Gala info under the NEWS section for more information or to purchase your tickets online. If you would like to donate an item or service to the Auction, or would like to help, contact Leanna Furey: furey5@aol.com or 703 352-2313.

ONLY 12 MORE DAYS LEFT FOR BOX TOPS!!!!
Please send in the coupons you have in your kitchen drawer! Don’t worry if you only have one or one hundred, just clip and send to school, attention Mrs. Figueiredo!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SKIP CARPOOL LINE EVERY AFTERNOON?
AND get a volunteer hour also? AND help our school go green? We need someone to take the plastic milk cartons to the recycling center every day – contact Mrs. White if you are interested.

ITS BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!!
Please join the 8th grade for a Hawaiian Luau Ice Cream Social. Tropical breezes and ice cream will be on Sat. March 21, 2009, 6:30 - 8:30 PM, St. Leo's Gym. Reduced price advance tickets are now available. See the flyer attached to the newsletter or look for the flyer in your Thursday folder. Contact Pat Corcoran at corkpandt@aol.com or 703 716-0696 for questions.

FOR THE 8TH GRADE SOCIAL - TOMORROW ONLY
Items are needed for the book/media sale held that evening. Please donate any books, magazines, DVD's, VHS's, digital cameras, extra thumb drives, and any other small electronic gadgets. Drop the donations at the front office. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated. Questions may be directed to Anita Richter, 703 591-6553, or Pearl Smisko, in the evenings, at 703 281-7332. Thank you for supporting the 8th graders.

AUCTION BASKETS:
This year we will be including baskets for the auction. Instead of asking each class to donate a basket, we are creating a school wide general basket fund. The money from this fund will then be used by the Auction Basket Committee to provide several different themed baskets to be auctioned. We are asking each family to consider donating toward this basket fund. The suggested donation is $5.00 per family but any amount is appreciated. As always your donations are voluntary. Today, a cover letter and envelope are being sent home via the oldest and only child through homeroom in K-5 and advisory in Middle School. If you misplace the envelope sent home, please send donations marked Basket Fund, return to front office. Thank you!

FROM THE PTO
Let's Dish!.... Would you like an easy and convenient way to put healthy, homemade dinners on your table -- and raise funds for St. Leo's? Let's Dish! can help you do that and will donate 10% of the proceeds back to St. Leo's from February 1 - April 30th. Go to www.letsdish.com to view their delicious menu offerings by month. Then simply book an in-store session or select their pick-up Dish-n-Dash service using the promotion code F9-STLEO when you enter your billing information. Remember, the more the merrier, so invite friends and family to "dish" with you and use the promotion code! Please note that other coupons may not be used at the same time as the fundraiser code. Click here for a flyer.

NIGHT OF MAGIC – PRESENTED BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Multiple magicians! Saturday, April 4th – School gym, 6pm. $10 per adult, $5 per child ($30 family cap). Price includes 2 slices of pizza and one beverage (soda and water available). Please RSVP so food can be ordered accordingly to Nelson Clinch 703.385.2146 or email: clinch5va@yahoo.com.

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

• If you're looking for an affordable vacation, take a look at some of the fun, free and almost-free experiences that await you in DC. Here is the website for you to have some fun: http://www.washington.org/visiting/browse-dc/attractions/100-free-things...
• The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is holding a raffle for 2 NEW Mercedes-Benz. Here's a FUN way to help & drive a NEW Mercedes Benz!! Tickets are $100 and that gives you two chances to win a car! Only 6,000 tickets are printed so your chances of winning are 1 in 3,000 (for each car)! See pictures of the Convertible & COOL SUV at www.leukemiaball.org/raffle.htm. The drawings will be held at The Leukemia Ball in Washington, DC, March 21, 2009 (in less than 1 month). You do not need to be present to win or even live in the area. We have had out-of-state winners before! It makes a great Mother's/Father's Day, birthday, anniversary gift, etc. Mercedes-Benz has donated the cars for the raffle so The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will receive the full value of your raffle purchase. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s mission is cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. To purchase your raffle tickets, please call Kelly Alfaro at (703) 399-2900 or email her at kelly.alfaro@lls.org.
• CRAZY FOR YOU presented by Georgetown Visitation on April 3 and 4 at 7:30pm, April 5th at 2pm. Reserve your tickets online at www.visi.org. $15 adults, $10 students/seniors. For questions only, please email box.office@visi.org.
• Paul VI Girls & Boys Summer Basketball Camp: June 15-19 / July 6-10 for Girls & Boys going into 3rd - 9th grades (9am - 4pm). $180 single camp fee/ $300 for both. Please contact Scott Allen at Coachsallen@aol.com (703-856-7157) to sign-up. Camp is filling up fast.
• St Leo The Great Mini-Hoopsters Basketball Camp: June 22 -26 / July 13-17 for Girls & Boys going into 1st - 3rd grades. $100 Single Camp Fee /$175 for both. Boys 9 am-12 pm / Girls 1pm - 4pm (Mon - Fri). Please contact Scott Allen at Coachsallen@aol.com (703-856-7157) to sign-up. Camp is filling up fast.
• BISHOP O’CONNELL SOCCER CAMP: Tuckahoe Park, Arlington, VA - June 29-July 2, 9:00am - 3:00pm (8-14 year Olds, $195* includes t-shirt) Morning: Skills, Tactics, Contests and More – Afternoon: Small and Large Sided Play - 1 hour lunch break (bring your own lunch ). For more information, please contact DJOsoccercamp@verizon.net or call 703-894-8844.