The Messenger - January 12, 2018

THE MESSENGER January 12, 2018 staopcs.org

STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS INDUCTION "Live simply, so that all may simply live."

-St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

MESSAGE FROM ADMINISTRATION Happy 2018! We hope you enjoyed the holidays with family and friends. We look forward to the spring semester and the blessings it will bring. Settling back into the routine after Christmas break makes for a great start to the New Year. We want to again extend warm thanks to those who shared gifts and wishes with us during the holiday season. We were overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity.

Thank you to the 112 families who responded to our Family Survey in December. That is an awesome return rate! Click here (staopcs.org/parent-survey-results) to view the results. We are utilizing the results as we continue our work this year and make plans for next year and the future. We’ve made some additional revisions to the Family Handbook to help clarify questions, etc. about Virtus© in regards to volunteers, lunches and classroom celebrations. We have further distinguished volunteers from visitors. Click here (staopcs.org/family-handbook-1) to view the changes. We encourage families who have uniforms (especially long pants, long-sleeved polos, sweatshirts, fleece jackets) that students have out grown to bring those in and stock our used uniform inventory for others to shop. This will help with the transition from Parker.

Our discipleship message for the week is about the adventure that God has planned for our school and each one of us in 2018. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God wants us to come to Him with a heart that is willing to be changed both as a school community and as individuals. He doesn’t want us to focus on the mistakes we made in the past, but instead on doing things His way today and in the future. God knows that he is asking a lot of us and that trying new things can be frightening. But he also knows each one of us and He understands us completely. As a school and as His people we can trust in Him. He will guide us. He will take us on a journey and new adventures in 2018 that will change who we are as a school and who we are individually. As His Disciples we know He is there with us every step of the way.

January brings our annual celebration of National Catholic Schools Week. We’re having a Trivia Night this year which sounds like a lot of fun. We hope you will join us. Don’t forget to sign up for STEPS for Students.

We want our presence known downtown among the other Catholic schools in the Archdiocese on February 17th. Mrs. Nunez is ready to kiss a pig if we reach 200 STEPS team members! The office staff is working with us to prepare for ‘18-‘19 registration. Re-registration opens on January 22nd. Flu season is upon us.

We are taking pro-active measures to disinfect the campus and practice good hygiene and you can help at home as well. See the reminders from the clinic included in The Messenger.

We gather at table with our parish family this weekend for Mass where we will hear from the Gospel of John about the first Disciple. Jesus asked His first disciples a simple question: “What are you looking for?”

He asks us this same question today. Jesus knows that we too, whether we know it or not, are looking for the same thing: salvation. And He offers us exactly what we are looking for. Maybe we’ll attend the same Mass and get to see you there! As we move further into 2018 we wish your family God's blessings. Don't forget to mark your calendars for January activities and events.

Reneé B. Nunez

Susan Leddy

Kendall Shamas

Principal

Assistant Principal

Assistant Principal

FOLLOW US @STAOPCS ON:

2018-2019 Registration Information Campus Tours of Common Areas

Registration Timeline

Thursday, January 11 | 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, January 18 | 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, January 25 | 10:00 a.m.

Monday, January 22 | Registration Opens for Returning Families Wednesday, January 31 | Registration Closes for Returning Families Monday, February 5| Registration Opens for New Students Wednesday, February 14 | Registration Closes for New Students Saturday, February 24 | Screening Day for New Student Applicants Friday, March 9 | Decision Emails Sent

Future Family Open House Thursday, February 1 | 6:30 p.m.

PARENT NEWS! UNIFORMS Due to the closure of Parker Uniforms this is an excellent time to sort through used uniforms at home and here at school. Please consider donating items you aren’t using, and visiting our used uniforms to find items you need. We also have limited sweatshirts and fleece jackets in stock. Contact Emily Booth if you need any of these items for your students!

FAMILY SURVEY RESULTS Thank you to the 112 families who responded to our Family Survey in December. Click here (staopcs.org/parent-survey-results) to view the results.

FAMILY HANDBOOK CHANGES We are utilizing survey results as we continue our work this year and make plans for future. We’ve made some additional revisions to the Family Handbook to help clarify questions, etc. about Virtus© in regards to volunteers, lunches and classroom celebrations. We have further distinguished volunteers from visitors. Click here (staopcs.org/family-handbook-1) to view the changes.

JANUARY 2018 CALENDAR Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

15 MLK Day NO SCHOOL

16

17

18

19

Talks with Father Tom, 8:15 a.m.

Campus Tour, 10 a.m. $5 Free Dress to benefit Student Love & Logic, 1 p.m.

Council Rosary (en Espanol), 2:30 p.m

Mass (2A), 9 a.m.

SPIRIT WEEK—SEE PG. 6 22

23

Registration opens for Spirit Night at returning students Black Walnut Café, 4-10 p.m.

Rosary, 8:30 a.m.

24

25

Mass (2B), 9 a.m.

Campus Tour, 10 a.m. 100th Day of School Love & Logic, 1 p.m.

Rosary (en Espanol), 2:30 p.m

SPIRIT WEEK

29

30

31

1

$1 T-shirt & Jean Day to benefit PACN

Registration closes for returning students

Love & Logic, 1 p.m.

Rosary, 8:30 a.m.

Mass (7-2), 9 a.m.

26

SATURDAY, JAN. 27TH

TRIVIA NIGHT! Students encouraged to wear uniforms to Sunday Mass for Catholic Schools Week!

2

Rosary (en Espanol), 2:30 p.m Future Family Open House, 6:30 p.m.

NATIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK - DETAILS IN NEXT WEEK’S MESSENGER!

ALL–SCHOOL NEWS LOVE AND LOGIC PARENT TRAINING Started Thursday, January 11, 2018 Training is six weeks long and will be held on Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the St. Anthony of Padua Parish Life Building Room 204. Love and Logic helps raise responsible kids and provides simple and practical techniques to help parents with kids of all ages. Love and Logic is a philosophy founded in 1977 by Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline, M.D. It is the approach of choice among leading educators, parents, and other professionals worldwide.

Please contact Janay O’Connor, School Counselor at joconnor@staopcs.org or (832) 482-4168 to participate!

NURSE’S NOTES Just a reminder that the flu is active in our immediate area! In addition to the efforts made at school, please help us prevent spreading the flu by being pro-active!  Monitor for cough, runny nose, headache, fever, chills, vomiting.  If you have a doubt about whether you should keep your child home, please err on the side of caution.  If your child has a temperature of 100.0 or above, they cannot be in school until they are fever free for 24 hours WITHOUT fever-reducing medication.  If your child has been diagnosed with something traceable, such as the flu, strep, mono, pneumonia, etc., let the front desk or Mrs. Pavlock know, so we can keep track where the illness’ are in the school and what classes.  Remind your children to cover and cough in the bend of their arm and wash their hands often.  Be aware that we do have some immune compromised children in our school and in an effort to help protect them as much as possible, keep your children home if they are ill.

NURSE NOTES FROM 1/07/18 TO 1/11/18: 01/08/18

4A

Reported case of the flu (student was never in the classroom though)

01/10/18

PK4B

Reported case of the flu (only in school Monday this week)

MIDDLE SCHOOL WRITING LEADERS 2nd Quarter 6th Grade: Juan Pablo Alvarez del Castillo Huerta, Andrea Sevilla, Sophie Kratter, Megan Brady, Josie Domitrovic 7th Grade: Marianna Munguia and Avery Hansen, Rebeca Amparan and Jordan Booth 8th Grade: Maria Gonzalez Vizzani, Rachel Strapp, Melanie Abdallah, Hannah Bernardo, Reagan Whatley

YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST What? A design cover contest for the SAOPCS 2017-18 Yearbook.

Who? Any student from 4th-8th grade can participate in this contest.

When? Your cover design is due to Mr. Mattern by Friday, January 26, 2018.

Where? You turn your cover design into Mr. Mattern in the library.

Why? You get eternal fame as the designer of this year’s yearbook cover and you also will receive a free 2017-18 yearbook.

How? You need to think of the following instructions, “Kindness means remembering J.O.Y. and thinking of OTHERS.”

SPRING SPORTS SIGN-UP The STAOPCS Spring Sports season is just around the corner. STAOPCS needs to know how many student athletes are interested in participating in Boys Baseball (7th & 8th), Girls Fast Pitch Softball (6th thru 8th) or Boys & Girls Track (5th thru 8th) for the 2018 season.

To sign-up for sports complete the commitment form and send in to Dale Quickel by Friday, Jan. 19th.

COUNSELOR’S CORNER BY JANAY O’CONNOR Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a very blessed 2018! The character trait for January is Personal Best (Maturity & Initiative). The social skills for January are “How to actively listen,” “How to apologize “and “How to accept decisions, corrections and consequences from authority and how to disagree appropriately.”

IMPORTANT DATES FOR JANUARY 

The Love and Logic Parent Training will begin Thursday, January 11, 2018. The training is six weeks long and will be held on Thursdays from 1:00pm to 3:00pm in the Parish Life Building Room 204. Love and Logic helps raise responsible kids and provides simple and practical techniques to help parents with kids of all ages. Love and Logic is a philosophy founded in 1977 by Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline, M.D. It is the approach of choice among leading educators, parents, and other professionals worldwide. Please contact Janay O’Connor, School Counselor at joconnor@staopcs.org or (832)482-4168 if you are interested in signing up.



The Entrance Exam for all Catholic High Schools is scheduled for Saturday, January 20, 2018, with the exception of Duchesne and St. Agnes.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES 

Catholic Schools Week is scheduled for the week of January 28th, 2018.



St. Anthony of Padua Quiz Bowl Team will be participating in the St. Pius Middle School Rally on Saturday, February 3, 2018.



Internet Safety Week is scheduled for Monday, February 12th—Friday, February 16th. On Monday, February 12, 2018, Paige Hollek with Crime Stoppers will be presenting internet safety topics to our students such as staying safe online, security settings, location settings and gaming safety. Paige will also host a separate parent presentation on social media. Please look in The Messenger for more details about this upcoming event.

LUCKY HEARTS GALA

Www.501auctions.com/staopcs

Amazon Registry

SPIRIT WEEK

TRIVIA NIGHT

Not sure you want to play? VOLUNTEER TO HELP! Click here for Sign-up Genius!

STEPS FOR STUDENTS

FEBRUARY 17TH, 2018

What is Steps for Students?

Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk welcomes runners and walkers of all ages across the Archdiocese of Galveston– Houston to enjoy a USATF sanctioned 5K race and day of family fun in support of our Catholic schools! Runners, walkers, strollers, and wagons are ALL WELCOME! You can even “Snooze” for students to show your support!

Why should we participate in Steps for Students?

Because you know that Catholic schools are making a difference in the lives of our students and in our communities. By registering to run and joining a team you can designate your registration fee and any pledges you collect to benefit St. Anthony of Padua’s team.

How do I sign–up?

Online Registration for Steps for Students is now open—click here to register!

100% CLASS PARTICIPATION: Each class reaching 100% participation in Steps for students by Friday, February 16th will receive a free shoe for a month pass (not valid on Mass days)!

200+ TEAM REGISTRANTS: Mrs. Nunez will KISS A PIG on DNN!

STEPS FOR STUDENTS EVENTS NEW! St. Anthony Team T-shirts Doucet Safety Analysis, LLC is generously sponsoring a school tshirt for the St. Anthony of Padua team! The t-shirt will feature our school’s winning shirt design from student Evie Fleming, and will allow the St. Anthony team to stand out in the crowd! Every registered participant on our team will receive a shirt!

Last day to “Snooze for Students” Thursday, January 31st Too early in the morning to run? This option allows you to be a Virtual Participant and still support our school with your registration fee. T-shirt included but no race packet or runner’s bib will be issued.

Registration fee increase Thursday, January 31st Registration fee will increase to $30 on Feb. 1st. $5 Free Dress Day Benefitting the STAOPCS Team Friday, February 16th All students will be encouraged to bring $5 for free dress to show their support of the STAOPCS Steps for Students team.

IPad Drawing Tuesday, February 20th All Steps for Students participants/families who raise over $500 through their Steps for Students fundraising page will be entered into a drawing to receive a “loaded” iPad! Steps Participation Day Tuesday, February 20th All students who participated in the Steps for Students 5K on Saturday, February 17, 2018, (either walking/running/volunteering or “snoozing”) will be encouraged to wear their Steps shirt/jeans/shoes of their choice (following dress code guidelines) to school.

AROUND STAOPCS Fun at the Steps for Students New Year’s Party!

Geography Bee

Student Council Induction

AROUND OUR PARISH