Between the Lions

PRINCIPAL’S REFLECTION
Congratulations go out to Mr. Barry Ward for the outstanding performance last night of our beginning and advanced bands. Special thanks to Mrs. White and the 3rd and 4th grade music classes for their special recorder performance. This was an evening to remember. Tomorrow, our band travels to Bush Gardens, to compete in the annual band festival and competition. Good luck and thanks to all of our parent volunteers who will be chaperoning and make this trip happen yearly...we couldn't do it without you! Special thanks to Mrs. Khavari for organizing all the details for our band students and parents.

This past Tuesday, 8th grade students completed the High School Foreign Language Placement Exam. Results of this exam will be forwarded to us and the parents from the individual Diocesan high schools for recommended placement next year.

To Mrs. Furey, and our PTO Development Committee for all of their hard work for their spring auction. Approximately $53,000 for raised towards enhancing our library and technology equipment, as well as providing additional resources to help keep a Catholic education affordable. Thank you for your generous support of this annual event.

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


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.

ARLINGTON DIOCESE HONOR BAND
Congratulations to the following students for making the 2009 Honor Band. Genesis Aguila, Paige Dunleavy, Genny Kelly, Nadine Rozell, Sarah Morillo, Ciara Corcoran, Roy Davies, Katherine Faunce, Michael Cuccias, Andreas Butler, Nick Kosyak, Sarah Griffin, Ryan Merrill, Daniel Smisko, James Frazier, Dylan Cate, and Anthony Kim. A special thanks to all those band students who were nominated for this group and were not chosen this year, please keep up the hard work!

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.

NEWS AROUND THE SCHOOL
On Saturday, May 21, six guitarists joined Mrs. White at the Diocesan Children's Music Festival at Pope John Paul the Great High School. Gino Bretana, Ian Harkes, Mark Wenner, Veronica Cena, Nadine Rozell and Megan O'Keefe performed along with 5 youth choirs in the new high school auditorium. They played awesomely and showcased our Guitar Elective! Thanks to them and their parents for being there!

The 8th grade members of NJHS took a field trip to Luray Caverns and the Mrs. Waldron's farm on April 30. The trip celebrated their hard work at providing service and fundraising for the school and for charity. The trip was such a success that Mrs. White and Mrs. Lyle hope this will become an annual event for NJHS. Thanks to Mrs. Sullivan, Mrs. Harkes and Mrs. Cena for providing transportation and chaperoning, and special thanks to our former teacher, Mrs. Waldron, for the fun she planned for us!

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.

RECEPTION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Fr. Whitestone is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of his Ordination into the Priesthood. On Sunday, May 24th, there will be a reception for him following the 11:00 AM Mass. About 8-10 volunteers are needed to help set up, serve and clean up. Time needed is approx. 11:00 - 1:00. This is a good opportunity for parents or high schoolers needing service hours. If you can help, contact Ginny Cate in the school kitchen at kitchen@saintleothegreatschool.org. Thank you.

FROM THE LIBRARY
Thanks to Collin Baldacci (7th grade) for his donation of "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart to the fiction collection. For information on book donations, please contact Mrs. Craven or Mrs. Ruta.

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!

SCHOOL SUPPLIES 09-10
It is that time again to order your school supplies for 2009-2010. Make your life easier and support the PTO by ordering through St. Leo's. Letters and order forms went home last week, but you can also download a copy on the school's website. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Sharkey at 703-279-7809. Thanks for your support!!

MOTHERS’ PRAYER GROUP
Please join us for the Mothers' Prayer Group Meeting on 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.

SEEKING PARENTS K-5 INTERESTED IN GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP SUPPORT

Each fall the Saint Leo's Girl Scouts have more girls than parents. Girls are wait-listed or turned away due to parent to child ratios not being met. If your daughter is new to the school or interested in joining Scouts this fall, please consider getting the required training this spring to become a leader in the fall. Grab a partner and do it together! Don't be afraid - it is easier than you think - as a leader you set the frequency, time and ates for the meetings. In addition, you personally benefit from getting to know your daughter's classmates, friends and their families on an all new level. The current Girl Scout Leaders are here to guide and mentor you - if interested, please contact Beth Ward billjoe@cox.net. Julie Baradi baradibunch@yahoo.com or Monette Corrigan monette_corrigan@s5a.com if any other leaders are interested, they could also be added. For a COMPLETE list of courses go to the GSCNC training registration website at http://register.gscnc.org

• Daisy (Gr.K and 1) 6/6 and 6/11
• Brownie (Gr.2 and 3) 5/14, 5/27, 6/4, 6/6
• Junior (Gr. 4 and 5) 5/9 and 5/20

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Mark your calendars because Saint Leo's is running a Vacation Bible School the week of July 13-17, 2009 from 9am-12noon. Registration for rising pre-K (4 year olds) to rising 6th graders is available for download on the parish website or for pickup in the CCD office. Spots will be available on a first-come basis. The cost is $30 for the first child, with a $60 family maximum. Contact Lee Cena (DRE) in the CCD office with any questions (703-273-4868).

• Paul VI PLAYERS present "The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood", on THIS 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.
• Catholic University - 17th Annual Boys and Girls Basketball Camp. For more info please call 202-319-6046 or email howes@cua.edu or on web at http://www.cuacardinals.com
• Spotlight on the Arts Drama & Art Summer Camps Early Bird Discounts End Soon - Instruction is provided by professionally trained Catholic artists who offer courses in drama, musical theatre, and art:
  • Locations: All Saints in Manassas, St. Mark in Vienna, and St. Veronica in Chantilly; 9:30am-3:00pm day camps:
    • Drama Bootcamp: boost skills in acting, improvisation, speech, and movement in this "everything drama" camp that is a ton of fun; excellent for those looking to try drama for the first time or those simply seeking to improve their skills... Students in grades K-8 meet: June 29th-July 2nd at St. Mark, July 6th-9th at All Saints, and July 13th-16th at St. Veronica, $150 (classes split by age).
    • Art Fun Camp: explore a new technique every day; perfect camp for the student that wants to explore multiple forms of visual art from sculpture to stain glass to painting to drawing and much more... Students in Grades K-2 meet June 29th-July 3rd at St. Veronica, July 6th-10th at St. Mark, and July 13th-17th at All Saints, $175 plus $30 art fee. Students in Grades 3-5 meet June 29th-July 3rd at St. Mark, July 6th-10th at All Saints, and July 13th-17th at St. Veronica, $175 plus $30 art fee.
    • Camp Broadway: improve acting, singing, and dance skills; a great camp to prepare anyone to be cast in a play or musical. Daily training and rehearsal collaborates in a final student performance on stage for families and friends of camp participants... Students in Grades 3-12 meet June 29th-July 3rd at St. Veronica, July 6th-10th at St. Mark, and July 13th-17th at All Saints, $175