The Messenger - Back-to-School Edition

THE MESSENGER August 3, 2018 staopcs.org

MESSAGE FROM ADMINISTRATION August 3, 2018 Dear St. Anthony of Padua Families, Let the countdown begin! New teachers arrived yesterday. All teachers and staff returned to campus today and it finally feels like the school year is upon us. Much has happened this summer in preparation for our students to return.

Classrooms have been cleaned. Textbooks and supplies have arrived. Schedules are being finalized. And our new uniform company, Risse Brothers has wrapped up their two day on-campus sale. Our students will be looking better than ever in their new Dolphin-wear! We are ready!

In the area of faith formation, we continue our three-year focus on JOY (Jesus, Others, Yourself) with this year’s focus being the “Y”, Yourself. This emphasis serves as an excellent opportunity for us to focus on our God-given talents and our responsibility to use these gifts to serve others as we live out our vocations as Children of God. One of my favorite Bible verses reminds us that “God created mankind in His own image… And it was very good” (Genesis 1: 27, 31). I vividly remember sitting in a school Mass when I was a third-grade student in Catholic School. Father Beaumont explored this text with us and asked the students, “What do your parents do when they see you?”. The response was: “They smile”.

He shared that parents smile when seeing their children because of their overflowing unconditional love. Additionally, they smile because they see themselves in their children. Father Beaumont shared that, like our parents, God our Father smiles when seeing us --- as he sees Himself in each of us. While this homily was shared almost four decades ago, it is one I will always remember which becomes all the more meaningful when gazing upon my own children. As a faculty and staff, we will remind your students of their worth as children of God and their responsibility to achieve to their full potential.

Parents, as the first teachers of your children, please continue these discussions at home. Know that you are a vital part of the St. Anthony family which is manifested in your support and partnership in all areas of your child’s academic journey. I look forward to many great things this year including exploring ways to integrate a more engaging Parent and School Organization. Look for more information on this coming soon!

Academic initiatives will continue this year as we renew last year’s archdiocesan focus on writing skills across all grade levels and disciplines. This initiative, coupled with continued teacher training will lead to academic growth for our students in all subjects. With our top-notch faculty, we will have an excellent year carrying out our mission of growing our students academically with a focus on academic excellence and rigor.

As your administrative team, we are humbled and blessed to serve the students and families of St. Anthony --- a school with a strong reputation and a legacy of producing phenomenal students. Please come by the school and introduce yourself. We look forward to seeing all of you on Monday, August 13th, as we kick off the 2018-2019 school year!

St. Anthony of Padua, Pray for Us.

Rev. Tom Rafferty

Veronica Tucker

Susan Leddy

Kendall Shamas

Pastor

Principal

Assistant Principal

Assistant Principal

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL/ORIENTATION DAY AUGUST 13, 2018 Students should wear their school uniforms on the First Day of School/ Orientation Day. Parents are encouraged to attend the parent program at 8:30 a.m. Students in Pre–K through 8th grade will stay in their classrooms. Younger siblings may accompany parents on Orientation Day. There is NO car line on the first day of school.

There is NO Beyond the Bell on the first day of school.

Cash, Checks and FACTS© billing will be accepted for P.E. uniforms.

SCHEDULE Doors Open at 8:00 a.m.

8:00—8:30 a.m. | CLASSROOM DROP-OFF Parents and students arrive in classrooms, meet & greet teachers Pre–K through 8th grade students remain in classrooms; all parents move to Gym. Program begins at 8:30 a.m.

8:30—9:00 a.m. | GYM Welcome & prayer, volunteer information, arrival & dismissal changes and updates for 2018-2019.

9:00—9:30 a.m. | GYM P.E. uniform sales & athletic information, yearbooks, Beyond the Bell information, Geomar lunch information, clinic information, medication drop–off, coffee and refreshments.

11:30—12:00 p.m. | CLASSROOM PICK-UP Parents return to pick up children in classrooms. *Please refrain from picking children up earlier than 11:30 a.m. so we can maintain organization on the first day of school.

BACK–TO–SCHOOL INFORMATION WHAT DO I BRING TO SCHOOL? School supplies have been purchased in bulk and will be in the classroom when students arrive. Students need to bring a zippered backpack and lunchbox if they are bringing snack/lunch to school. Backpacks must be large enough to hold textbooks and a 9 1/2” x 11” folder but small enough to fit into classroom cubbies or middle school lockers as storage space is limited. We highly encourage Pre–K & K students to have non—rolling backpacks due to safety concerns. Please label backpacks and lunchboxes.

Arrival & Dismissal Form (for walkers, bikers, and ALL middle school students) should be filled out and turned in at the gym on the first day of school.

BEYOND THE BELL The August and September calendars are available on our website at: staopcs.org/beyondthebell. If you plan to use Beyond the Bell during the months of August and September, please complete the calendars and email to Charlotte Aldrich at caldrich@staopcs.org. Payments are invoiced through FACTS© accounts. There is no Beyond the Bell on the first day of school/orientation day (August 13th).

UNIFORMS, SHOES & DRESS CODE Uniforms are required beginning on the first day of school.

Here are a few reminders: • Shopping for socks and shoes will be easier if you read the requirements first and refer to dress code (excerpted from the Family Handbook) and the uniform color chart.

• Before getting back to school haircuts, please read the requirements.

• Uniform information is available at: staopcs.org/uniforms IMPORTANT – Infractions of the uniform and dress code are reflected in conduct grades. P.E. uniforms are required for 6th–8th grades. P.E. Uniforms will be available at Orientation Day.

ABSENCES Absences should be reported by 7:40 a.m. You can call the school office (281–296–0300), or you may send an email to attendance@staopcs.org and copy your child’s teacher.

Please let us know in advance if your child will be absent due to a scheduled appointment.

VIRTUS, PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN PROGRAM All Volunteers are required to be current with the VIRTUS© program. Volunteers must attend the Protecting God’s Children© adult workshop, sign the Archdiocesan Volunteer’s Code of Conduct and agree to an Archdiocesan background check which is inclusive of criminal history. To maintain VIRTUS© certification, volunteers must attend the Keeping the Promise Alive© refresher workshop within 12 months after reaching their 5th year Protecting God’s Children© anniversary date. Volunteers who do not attend the mandatory Keeping the Promise Alive© refresher workshop within the 12–month grace period, will be required to attend another Protecting God’s Children© workshop. After an additional 5 years of taking the Keeping the Promise Alive© refresher workshop, volunteers are required to complete a 2nd refresher training called Protecting God's Children Online Awareness Session©. Volunteers, who do not complete the mandatory Protecting God's Children Online Awareness Session© within the 3–month grace period will be required to attend another Protecting God’s Children© workshop. As a community of faith it is our moral responsibility to safeguard children, the most important gifts God entrusts to us. Visit the VIRTUS© website for more information and to enroll in a certification or recertification session: www.virtusonline.org.

CAMPUS SECURITY: VISITORS & VOLUNTEERS Access into the school building during school hours is through the main entrance. Other entrances including those into the Bishop Sheltz Fellowship Hall are locked for the safety and security of our students, staff, and visitors.

SUMMER REQUIRED READING Public access to the interior of the school building will be You still have time to finish up your summer reading.

Requirements and forms are posted on the school web site, restricted to the office lobby. All visitors, including school parents are required to check in through the school office staopcs.org/summer–reading–lists and show valid picture identification. Visitors approved to Please keep summer reading logs and projects at home enter the building will be issued nametags that must be until teachers ask for them. worn while on campus including the Fellowship Hall for lunch. Visitors should turn in nametags at the school front ROOM PARENTS & VOLUNTEERING office when they leave the building. Security cameras cover If you are interested in being a Room Parent for 2018building entrances, interior hallways, and stairwells 2019, please email: roomparent@staopcs.org. providing 24–hour recording surveillance.

Additional Paduan Parent Volunteer Opportunities will be communicated at Orientation Day.

BACK–TO–SCHOOL INFORMATION PARENTSWEB© Our school management system is RenWeb’s ParentsWeb© – a private and secure parents’ portal that allows parents to see academic information specific to their children, while protecting their children’s information from others. All you need is an Internet–capable computer to view information such as: Attendance, Daily Grades, Progress Reports, Report Cards, Homework, Missing Assignments, School Calendar, School Announcements, Staff and School Directory, Teacher Email Addresses, Teacher Websites.

If you are unfamiliar with ParentsWeb©, RenWeb© has created a 5–minute ParentsWeb© Overview video, which will give you an introduction to the system. Please watch it at your convenience at this address: https:// vimeo.com/126932181. The password to access the video is ParentsWeb. The link to access the video is also available on our website at staopcs.org/parentsweb.

If you went through the online enrollment process, you should already have a ParentsWeb© Login. However, if not, please follow the directions listed below.

Instructions for Creating a ParentsWeb© Login: • Please go to www.renweb.com.

• Select Logins from the menu bar and ParentsWeb Login from the drop–down menu.

• After the RenWeb ParentsWeb Login screen opens, please select Create New ParentsWeb Account.

• Enter SATY–TX into the District Code field.

• Enter in the Email field your email address as provided in your application to the school.

• Click the Create Account button.

• You will receive an email from RenWeb Customer Support containing a link that will allow you to create your username and password. For security purposes the link will remain active for 6 hours.

• Please click on the link. A Change/Create Password screen will open. You may use the default username provided, or create a new username. Then type in your desired password into the Password field and Confirm Field.

• Click on the Save Username and/or Password button.

• Close the window.

• Log into ParentsWeb as instructed above.

LUNCH PROGRAM We are pleased to welcome Geomar© back as our hot lunch vendor. Lunch service will begin on the second day of school. Orders and payment must be placed through their website at geomar.h1.hotlunchonline.net. You can access their website directly or through a link on the school web page. Online menus are available for viewing, and orders must be placed at least 2 days in advance to ensure that enough meals are prepared each day. Geomar© will be at Orientation Day to meet families.

Students may bring lunches from home. Information about snacks will be provided by the classroom teachers. Students do not have access to cold storage, heating appliances or utensils.

ATHLETIC PROGRAM Calling all cross country, football, soccer, and volleyball players in 6th–8th grade!

Practices start: Football—Thurs., 8/2, 5–6:30 p.m. @ STAOPCS Soccer—Tues., 8/14, 3:30–5:30 p.m. @ STAOPCS Volleyball—Tues., 8/14, 3:30–5:30 p.m. @ STAOPCS Cross Country—Mon., 8/20, 3:30–5 p.m. @ STAOPCS All athletes must have a current physical on file at school before they will be able to participate.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHROMEBOOKS: We are excited once again to offer our middle school students the use of Chromebooks™ to enhance their educational experience. The purpose of this 1:1 Chromebook™ Program is to have a seamless integration between technology and the curriculum in order to promote a 21st century classroom. This device is for educational purposes only. If you have any questions about our Chromebook program please contact Information Technologist, Arlene Failde.

COMMUNITY PARTNER PROGRAM If you would like to promote your business to our school families, please let us know! More information about the Community Partner Program is available online at: http://www.staopcs.org/communitypartners Thank you to the following organizations for their early commitment to this program.

Teacher Appreciation Sponsor: Hughes & Cozad Orthodontics Silver Sponsor: Farley Orthodontics

ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL INFORMATION As mentioned yesterday in a letter from Father Tom & Mrs. Tucker, we have made some changes to our Arrival & Dismissal Procedures for 2018-2019. Please take a moment to review our new arrival and dismissal procedures for the 2018-19 school year. We are confident that with everyone’s cooperation and patience, these changes will make arrival and dismissal safer and more efficient. You will receive detailed information and instructions on the first day of school.

ARRIVAL This year, there are two options for morning arrival. Parents may choose between Carline Drop-off or Park & Walk.

Morning Carline (Pre-K 3--8th Grade) • Carline begins at 7:40 AM. • In the interest of safety, please DO NOT drop off students or allow them to exit your vehicle before 7:40. Our Beyond the Bell program opens at 6:30 AM for families who need before school care.

Please call the school office at 281-296-0300 for Beyond the Bell registration information.

• All carline vehicles enter via the lower Kuykendahl drive, forming a single file line and proceeding to the crosswalk near the playground.

• After dropping off your child, remain in single file until your vehicle exits the parking lot.

• The playground crosswalk is the first student drop-off point.

• Please be sure your child is unbuckled and ready to exit the vehicle when you reach the unloading zone.

• As in past years, carline volunteers will be stationed along the unloading zone sidewalk.

• Students in grades Pre K 3--3rd walk up the sidewalk and enter the building via the entrance closest to the playground, next to the school counselor’s office.

• Students in grades 4-8 will be directed to walk up the sidewalk and along the covered walkway entering the building via the gym entrance.

• After carline drop-off, vehicles exit onto Bay Branch using the St. Teresa Center drive or the staff parking lot drive.

• For the safety of our students and staff, please avoid the parking area directly in front of the school (morning Park & Walk lot).

• Students arriving after 8:00 A.M. will enter through the main school entrance and be signed in tardy.

Morning Park & Walk • Parents who wish to walk students into the building in the morning park in the lot directly in front of the school main entrance.

• Park & Walk vehicles enter and exit campus via the main entry drive off Bay Branch.

• Remember, the first bell rings and the school doors open at 7:40 AM. Please do not leave children unattended before 7:40.

Walkers/Bike Riders • Walkers and Bike Riders enter through the school main office.

PLEASE REVIEW THE DIAGRAM ON THE NEXT PAGE

ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL INFORMATION P.M. DISMISSAL

**NEW for the 2018-19 school year -- all students (Pre-K 3--8th) will dismiss at 3:30 PM** The options for afternoon dismissal are Carline Pick Up, Personal Pick Up, or Middle School Park & Walk.

Afternoon Carline • Carline begins at 3:30 PM. • All carline vehicles enter via the lower Kuykendahl drive, forming a single file line and proceeding to the crosswalk near the playground.

• The playground crosswalk is the first student loading point.

• After picking up your child, remain in single file until you exit the parking lot.

• Please pull into the St. Teresa Center lot to buckle in your child.

• As in past years, school staff will be stationed along the loading zone sidewalk.

• All carline riders will be dismissed through the exit doors closest to the playground, next to the school counselor’s office.

• After carline pick-up, vehicles exit onto Bay Branch via the St. Teresa drive or the staff parking lot drive.

• Cars may not use the upper Kuykendahl drive to exit because of Middle School Park and Walk traffic.

Middle School Park & Walk • Middle School Park & Walk vehicles enter the lot through the upper Kuykendahl drive.

• They exit via the upper Kuykendahl drive or the main entry drive.

• Middle School students will be dismissed through the doors by the AMR and Sheltz Hall.

• They then proceed to the Middle School Park & Walk lot using the marked crosswalk (with 2018-19 permission form signed by parent and returned to school office).

• Students may pick up younger siblings in Sheltz Hall (with a 2018-19 permission form signed by parent and returned to school office).

• Arrival & Dismissal Form (for walkers, bikers, and ALL middle school students) should be filled out and turned in at the gym on the first day of school.

Personal Pick-Up • Students who will be picked up through Personal Pick-Up will wait in the Sheltz Hall • Personal Pick-Up vehicles enter and exit via the main entry drive • NEW THIS YEAR-- parents who use Personal Pick-Up will park in the lot directly in front of the school office and proceed down the sidewalk to the Personal Pick-Up line in the Piazza

PLEASE REVIEW THE DIAGRAM ON THE NEXT PAGE **PARENTS** Please fill out the dismissal survey indicating which way your child will typically dismiss from school; carline, personal pickup, middle school park and walk, walker/bike rider or Beyond the Bell (aftercare). Complete this survey for each child in your family. We understand that there may be circumstances that require a change in dismissal. If there is a change on a particular day, email the school office at attendance@staopcs.org by noon so that we can accommodate your request.

DISMISSAL CHOICE SURVEY

INTRODUCING OUR 2018–2019 STAFF We are fortunate to have a great group of returning staff members and some truly awesome newly hired staff members as well. We believe that each has been called to us in a special way and brings many gifts and talents to share. They have embraced the vision, mission, and philosophy of our school. They are committed to strengthening our culture of discipleship. We know that you will welcome our staff members and support them in their ministry of Catholic education.

Administration & Office Staff Veronica Tucker, Principal & Parish Director of Education Susan Leddy, Assistant Principal Pre–K – 5th Kendall Shamas, Assistant Principal 6th – 8th, Auxiliary & Information Systems Coordinator Janay O'Connor, Counselor Olga Wunch, Learning Advisor Leslie Pavlock, Nurse Nestor Cayanan, Religion Coordinator Dale Quickel, Athletic Coordinator Heather Koett, Assistant Athletic Coordinator Cathy Russell, Admissions & Office Manager Colette Carson, Business Manager Katie Tressel, Advancement Coordinator Mary Cunningham, Administrative Services & Support Assistant Emily Booth, Administrative Services & Support Assistant Emily Domingo, Administrative & Communications Assistant Early Childhood Department Laura Foy, Pre–K3 Mona Rodriguez, Pre–K3 Assistant Vanessa Wilson, Pre–K4 Cinthia Bierbaum, Pre–K4 Assistant Ann–Marie Dalton, Pre–K4 Patricia Tamez, Pre–K4 Assistant Abby Smith, Kindergarten Prudence Osman, Kindergarten Assistant Kari Golden, Kindergarten Linda Dueitt, Kindergarten Assistant Elementary Department Lexie Lyons, 1st Grade Mary Beth Larkin, 1st Grade Kristi Doyle, 2nd Grade Therese Abib, 2nd Grade Monique Loyo, 3rd Grade Barbara Glanville, 3rd Grade Meghan Preuss, 4th Grade MiKayla Gambertoglio, 4th Grade Katherine Naeher, 5th Grade Kathy Graff, 5th Grade Catherine Wogan, Learning Support Teacher

Middle School Department Robert Barnes, 6th Advisor & Social Studies Jill Gregory, 6th Advisor & Math Kelly Sturgeon, 7th Advisor & Science Sarah Turner, 7th Advisor & English Language Arts Kristine Parks, 8th Advisor & English Language Arts Nestor Cayanan, 8th Advisor & Religion Lisa Biagi, Math Margaret Blouin, Learning Support Teacher & Religion Auxiliary Department Joey Scale, Band & Liturgical Music Assistant Sylvia Gonzalez, World Language & Spanish & PE-Angels Elizabeth Curtin, Theatre & Middle School Electives Suzanne Ettman, Art Heather Koett, EC World Languages & PE Mozelle Sulak, Music 3–8 & Liturgical Music Coordinator Caitlyn Surkein, Music Pre–K–2 Dale Quickel, PE & Health Kendall Shamas, Broadcast Media Technology/Library Media Center Arlene Failde, Instructional Technologist & Middle School Electives Tammy Fishman, Librarian Cristofer Mattern, Library & Middle School Electives Before & After School Program Susan Leddy, Coordinator Charlotte Aldrich, Manager Thelma Sanchez, Staff Yvette Flot, Staff Ellen Pavlich, Staff Joey Scale, Staff Deborah Tsoukalas, Staff

GIVING BY LIVING There are several ways you can give back to our school just by doing your every day shopping & eating out!

FIRST SPIRIT DAY

California Pizza Kitchen 1900 Hughes Landing Blvd, Suite 200, The Woodlands, TX 77380 Monday, August 13th 11 a.m.—10 p.m.

Make sure you mention to your server that you are supporting St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School! Perfect way to celebrate the first day of school!

SHUTTERFLY & TINY PRINTS Preserve your summer & back-to-school memories, and purchase photo cards, invitations, or more at Shutterfly & Tiny Prints. A portion of your sale will be donated back to STAOPCS. Click to shop: http://staopcs.shutterflystorefront.com/

LABELS FOR THE STUFF KIDS LOSE! ® Mabel’s labels are dishwasher, microwave, and laundry safe personalized labels. Please visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and search for St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School to place your order and support our school! Great for uniforms, water bottles & lunchboxes!

August 2018 Calendar Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

13 First Day of School/ Orientation Day, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

14

15 16 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

Fri 17

Mass, 9:00 a.m., 1st though 8th grades attending

SPIRIT DAY: California Pizza Kitchen, 11 a.m.—10 p.m.

20

21

22 Mass, 9:00 a.m.

23 Early Childhood/ Elementary Parent Info Night, 5:30 p.m.

24

27

28

29 Mass, 9:00 a.m.

30 Middle School Parent Information Night, 6:00 p.m.

31

Early Release, 1:45 p.m.