Saint Leo the Great Catholic School

Reminders:

• 7th grade parent meeting, "Transition to High School" today, 3:15pm in the Guadalupe Room for interested parents who would like to gather more information regarding the high school application process.
• GOLF TOURNAMENT-LAST CHANCE
  Start putting together your golf foursomes as you won't want to miss out on the Fourth Annual PTO Golf Tournament, THIS Monday, May 11th at Heritage Hunt Golf & Country Club. All proceeds go to support our school's technology department.  In addition, be sure to order your raffle tickets for a chance to win a week at the Outer Banks in South Nags Head, NC, a 42" LCD HD TV or an 8GB Ipod Nano.  Tickets are $10 each.  Click here to download your order form.  Tickets will be sold through Friday, May 1st with drawing to be held during the golf tournament dinner.  You need not be present to win.  To see the beach house go to:
  http://www.carolinadesigns.com/cdfinal/ASP/INCLUDES/oneprop.asp?propid=704
  Any questions?  Contact Jack Gallagher.

PRINCIPAL’S REFLECTION
I'm sure that all of the parents and students join me in this opportunity to thank the teachers and instructional assistants for the outstanding services they provide to our students and families. At Saint Leo the Great School we use the word "teacher" to include all the wonderful individuals who take responsibility for the instructional program for the children. Teachers are certified general education teachers, instructional assistants, librarians, reading specialists, Extended Day, fine arts and physical education teachers, specialists, administrator, and the custodial and secretarial staffs as well. All of the professionals and the paraprofessionals at the school contribute to the success and learning of the students.

Teaching is a very interesting occupation, being as much as a calling as a job. Surely, we all get paid for our time at work but teachers regularly invest themselves through the dedication of their efforts, time and emotional involvement. Teachers provide academic guidance and emotional understanding as children go through their most tender periods of development. Teachers have an innate sense of what motivates children and how high to place the bar to inspire rather than discourage. Teachers are the only people on the earth who can manage 25 (or more) active personalities and organize them to achieve a common goal. Teachers are among the few whose job description includes a contracted eight-hour day plus an additional 1-3 hours of "homework" every night. Teachers are the men and women who dedicate their lives to our children and love every minute of it. I am extremely proud to work with the outstanding staff at Saint Leo the Great. I thank them for all they do every single day.

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

THIRD QUARTER INTERIMS
are being sent home today for students in grades 1-8. Parents should review these reports with your children. Praise their accomplishments and encourage them in areas of needed growth. Please return signed Progress Report by Tuesday, May 12th to your homeroom teachers or advisor. If a conference is needed, please contact the individual teacher to set up a convenient time to meet.

ATTENTION ROOM PARENTS
for bookkeeping purposes, all room parent receipts MUST BE TURNED IN TO AMY WILSON BY MAY 27TH for reimbursement for this school year.

PANDEMIC FLU
As defined by the Virginia Department of Health, pandemic influenza is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears in humans, causes serious illness and then spreads from person to person worldwide. Although there are no reported cases of Avian or Swine Flu in Virginia or any other illness that creates pandemic situations, the Office of Catholic Schools has asked that we prepare a plan in the event of the need for closing school for an extended period of time. If a pandemic situation occurs, Saint Leo the Great School will communicate information to parents/students and the community through:

• Our regular Thursday newsletter
• Our School's website/school and/or teacher email/webpages
• The recorded message on our school's phone system
• The Emergency School Messenger notification system.

PANDEMIC SCHOOL PLAN
St. Leo School will follow the guidelines of the state, county, and diocese in regard to pandemic situations. This includes criteria for closing school.

In case school would need to be closed if there were an outbreak of swine flu or some other pandemic:

• The principal or her designate will inform the pastor/parents/news media of school closing
• Parents and students will be notified of a teacher's method of communication by the classroom teacher: our web site, a link to the school web site, email. This information will also be available on our website.
• The teacher will provide daily assignments/readings/worksheets (to be downloaded) to keep the students learning, productive, and in a school 'frame of mind'. Time allotments would be provided so the parents know how to help budget student's time.
• Teachers will 'collect' assignments/readings/worksheets as determined to use as grades from email.
• Quarter grades and final grades will be assessed depending on the length of time school is closed.
• Other decisions regarding activities, programs, assignment to next grade, graduation will be made based upon conditions at the time of the pandemic and its length.

The website/teacher webpages will be further used to provide information to students and parents to allow students to reinforce and review class assignments, to keep their skills sharp. More information on pandemic flu and what the Commonwealth of Virginia has prepared in case of a health emergency is available at: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/pandemicflu/. Additional information can be obtained from Fairfax County Public Schools at http://www.fcps.edu/news/swineflu.htm.

THANKS & PRAISE

• To Leanna Furey for the chips and salsa to the faculty and staff on Cinco de Mayo!
• To Mrs. Loan Nguyen for all the fabulous pastries for National Teachers Day!
• To Mrs. Andy Walsh for providing a wonderful lunch to all the faculty and staff. It was delicious!
• Mrs. Bolster, Mrs. Morrison, Mrs. Eisert, Mrs. Budzynski, Mrs. McCroy, Mrs. Storey and Mrs. Crosson and parent volunteers, Sid Crowe/Maintenance staff and the Saint Leo National Junior Society for all of their help in organizing and planning our outstanding 3rd Annual Saint Leo the Great Art Fair this past Tuesday. It was a huge success.
• To Mrs. White and Sylvia Mulherin for coordinating the Parish Childrens' Choir and Guitar Group who participated in the Diocesan Music Festival this past weekend. A fun time was had by all.
• To Mrs. White, Mrs. Ball and Mrs. Baker and third grade students for planning our very special May Crowning Mass this past Friday. Special thanks go out to the Kindergarten and 8th grade students who brought flowers to the Blessed Mother to enhance her day.
• To Mrs. Bolster who moderated our 3rd club session. Students truly benefited from the extra time spent enhancing their art skills.
• To Barry Ward and our Honor Band students who participated this past Tuesday at Bishop Ireton. Selected students represented our school and band program.
• To Mrs. Hardy and Mrs. Schouviller for all the planning for their 4th grade play, The Mixed Up Fairy Tales.
• To Mrs. White and the National Junior Society for continuing their efforts for our paper and plastic recycling program.
• Thanks to the following students for their help with the 5th Grade Transition to Middle School meeting: Brian Daly, Dylan Cate, Julia Dunbar and Nicole Toole.
• To Mrs. Ball and Mrs. Baker and parent chaperones for the field trip to Mount Vernon today.
• To Mrs. Capen and Mrs. Hish, Mrs. Doss and Mrs. Holleran for their wonderful preparation of our second grade students as they received First Holy Communion this coming weekend and last weekend.
• To Mrs. Ku-DiPietro, Mrs. Toenshoff and parent volunteers for organizing our Spring Track Program. It was a huge success. Special thanks to Mrs. Doss and Miss Capen for their support especially with the second grade track program.
• Thank you to all our St. Leo families who supported our recent Dining Fundraisers. We celebrated and earned $233 from some of St. Leo's Basketball teams holding their end-of-season parties at Fuddruckers. A delicious $100 came from the Chick-fil-a Cheesecakes sold before Easter, and a convenient $77 was earned from Let' Dish. Thanks again for supporting our school.

FROM THE LIBRARY
Thanks to Sadie Drummond (2nd Grade), Scott (6th grade), Stephen (4th grade), and Kimberly (3rd grade) Roxbrough and Mrs. Cozzarelli for their book donations to our fiction and religion sections of the library! For information on donating a book, please call or email Mrs. Craven or Mrs. Ruta.

FROM EXTENDED DAY
Please remember to get your Pre-Pay forms to the Extended Day office as soon as possible. If your child is not signed up by the time the Pre-Pay Period starts and attends Extended Day, fees and penalties will be assessed as laid out in the pre-pay letter. If you are in need of another letter and form please contact the Extended Day office.

Our last SVDP fundraiser, our "Money of Mary's Children" drive begins on May 1st and continues until May 22nd. By bringing nickels, dimes, quarters, or dollars and placing them in your classroom's HCA globe, your donations will be used by the Pantry to purchase necessary food items throughout the Summer months of June, July, and August. Last year donations totaled over $1,200 and were used to buy food items like flour, sugar, bread, peanut butter, jelly, and fruit drink mix, bread, and spaghetti which helped to feed others during the summer of 2008. Remember all you need to do is place your coins into the HCA globe found in your classroom.

What better way to honor our Blessed Mother than to serve others in need!

ANNOUNCING: THE SAINT LEO THE GREAT SCHOOL COMMUNITY CHALLENGE TO WALK ACROSS AMERICA
Please remember to turn in your Walk Across America family registration form this week and start counting your steps this Friday! Good Luck
Look for our school's weekly progress posted on the map posted outside of the library and for updates on the Health and Wellness site (under parent resources).
If you have any questions please fell free to contact the school clinic at 703-273-1211 ext 646, or if need new forms, all are posted under the Health and Wellness Link.
Count every step and every step counts!!

MOTHERS’ PRAYER GROUP
Please join us for the Mothers' Prayer Group Meetings on May 14, and June 4, right after morning drop off, in the St. Mark's Room (Parish Hall). We will follow readings from the liturgical calendar, reflections from the book "The Better Part" and prayers for our school, teachers and families. We will end praying The Rosary. For questions, please contact Marcia Capizzani at atmloureiro2002@aol.com.  All are welcome.

• Paul VI PLAYERS present "The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood", on Sunday May 17th at 3pm. $5 per person.
• Paul VI All Night Grad Party Fundraiser: Tuesday 4/28. Anyone who eats at Baja Fresh in Fairfax Town-Center from 5pm-8pm, 15% will go to Paul VI's All Night Grad Party.
• 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.
• PVI Soccer Camp Summer 2009 - June 22-26, 9-3 pm - all day - ages 7-15 are welcome to attend. For more information call 703-352-0925.
• 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.
• Student Advance Learning: Providing 1:1 Home & Online Based Instruction & Group Lessons: All Academic Subjects / Grades & Test Prep. Does your child need to catch up, keep up, or get ahead in school? How about during the summer? Our experienced team has helped many children do better in school and enhance their skills during the summer. Enroll in private lessons or in a customized summer academic camps where you can create your own small group! Upcoming 8th graders: Enroll in a High School Placement Test course to be offered in Fall 2009 at Saint Leos. Further information located on the website. www.studentadvancelearning.com. Contact Us Today! Ph: (704) 776-1723 or email studentadvancelearning@yahoo.com.