The Messenger - New Family Edition

THE MESSENGER NEW FAMILY EDITION—May 17, 2017 staopcs.org

Welcome to Our School Family!

MESSAGE FROM ADMINISTRATION Dear New Families, We are thrilled to congratulate our newly accepted families and welcome you to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School. We know there are many pieces of information to manage when joining a new school community. This electronic newsletter will help facilitate your family’s smooth transition to St. Anthony of Padua.

Within this newsletter you will find information needed to prepare for the upcoming academic year. Please complete any forms or information appropriate for your child.

Our school’s weekly newsletter is also delivered in this format and you can view past issues at: https://issuu.com/staopcs. We hope that you will continue to use our website (www.staopcs.org) as a resource as we move towards the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year. Our social media pages are also excellent ways to stay informed about what is happening around campus. Find us @STAOPCS at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Have a wonderful summer and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!

Reneé B. Nunez

Susan Leddy

Kendall Shamas

Principal

Assistant Principal

Assistant Principal

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS June 5—June 16 | 8 a.m.—3 p.m.

June 19—June 30 | 8 a.m.—12 p.m.

July 3—July 7 | School Office Closed July 10—July 21 | 8 a.m.—12 p.m.

July 24—August 4 | 8 a.m.—3 p.m.

August 7—August 11 | 8 a.m.—4 p.m.

August 14 | First Day of School August 14 | Begin regular hours of 7:30 a.m.—3:45 p.m.

WELCOME TO THE STAOPCS FAMILY! PADUAN PARENTS Parents partnering with our school enrich the education and faith experiences of students thus enhancing the total quality of the school program. Parents are automatically members of the organization under the guidance of the Advancement Department. Paduan Parents promotes open communication and understanding, serves as a vehicle for parent involvement, and instills a sense of pride in our school.

Family commitment is essential to our school’s success, therefore, parents are asked to acquire at least 20 family volunteer units called Paduan Points annually through volunteering and fundraising activities within our school. More information about tracking & accumulating Paduan Points will be available at the start of the school year. Please feel free to email advancement@staopcs.org with any questions about Paduan Parent volunteer opportunities.

ROOM PARENTS We encourage all parents and guardians to volunteer as a Room Parent during the 2017-2018 school year. This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to your child’s classroom, experience your child’s interactions with teachers and peers, and most of all, see the pride in your child’s face when you are there to share special times with their class.

If you are interested in this fun and rewarding opportunity, please let us know at roomparent@staopcs.org. Be sure to let us know which grade-level Room Parent position you’re interested in. The school will contact individual Room Parents once the school year begins.

VIRTUS TRAINING REQUIREMENT VIRTUS training is required for all volunteers. This training is offered throughout the year at various convenient locations, including our own parish. Please visit www.virtus.org to register for your training.

TUITION PAYMENT INFORMATION The first tuition payment will be drawn from your FACTS account on June 1st! Please contact Cathy Russell, crussell@staopcs.org if you have any questions.

PARKER UNIFORMS Parker School Uniforms is the official supplier for uniform items with the exception of spirit t-shirts, sweatshirts, and footwear. Uniform garments must have the required school emblems, monograms, or embroidery. Footwear including shoes, socks, and tights may be purchased in local retail stores.

USED UNIFORMS St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School has a supply of used uniforms available on a first come/first serve basis.

Donations are appreciated. Families may look through used uniforms during normal school office hours. Used uniforms will also be available on orientation day.

SUMMER READING St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School has required summer reading for incoming 1st through 8th grade students.

The summer reading lists and requirements will be posted on the school website, www.staopcs.org on the last day of school: June 1st, 2017. There is a tab at the top of the SAOPCS home page titled Programs. Use the drop down menu under Programs to find Summer Reading. Click on the grade level to see requirements.

If you have any questions, email our librarian, Tammy Fishman at tfishman@staopcs.org.

UNIFORM REGULATIONS & DRESS CODE REPRINTED FROM FAMILY HANDBOOK Students of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School wear uniforms. Parents and students are responsible for seeing that garments worn are properly fitted and comply with the uniform regulations. The school reserves the right to determine if a student’s grooming and dress meet the standards of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School. Faculty members share the responsibility of enforcing the regulations and dress code. If students come to school out of uniform or inappropriately dressed for the day parents may be called to bring the appropriate garments. If parents cannot be reached, an attempt to provide the student with the appropriate garments is made through lost and found and/or clinic uniform supplies. A student’s conduct grade is reduced for uniform and dress code violations.

Parker School Uniforms is the official supplier for uniform items with the exception of spirit t-shirts, sweatshirts, and footwear. Uniform garments must have the required school emblems, monograms, or embroidery. Spirit t-shirts and sweatshirts are sold through the school office. Footwear including shoes, socks, and tights are purchased in local retail stores.

All garments should be labeled with the student's name. Official uniforms must be worn for Mass, prayer services, some field trips, and other special occasions. Students, who are members of national organizations such as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, may wear the national adopted uniform on meeting days. In most cases, the last Wednesday of the month is t-shirt day. Students may wear their school t-shirt with uniform shorts, skorts or slacks and must follow the regular policy for shoes.

Students are required to be in appropriate attire for designated non-uniform/free dress days, school sponsored events, or anytime they are on campus. Clothing must be modest and appropriate for wear in the Catholic school setting. The length of skirts and dresses should be no shorter than 2” above the knee. Tank tops, halter-tops, midriff shirts, shorts shorter than fingertip length, or any garments exposing an inappropriate amount of a student’s body are not permitted. Clothing should not be too tight or revealing. Garments with advertisements for cigarettes, alcohol, or music groups may not be worn.

Garments with offensive or inappropriate language, graphics, or symbols may not be worn. Garments such as sweatshirts and t-shirts with appropriate references to collegiate or sports teams are acceptable on non-uniform days. Hats/caps are not indoor wear and not allowed in the classroom. When blue jeans are worn, they may not be frayed, tattered, too tight, too baggy, or too low. Boots with heels no higher than one (1) inch are permitted on free dress days.

Shoes should be mainly black, brown, navy, gray, tan or white with rubber soles. Details on shoes should be minimal and colors are limited to those reflected above or in the school plaid. Florescent or neon colors are not permitted for shoes or laces. Shoes should fit well and provide good support and traction for kids on the go. Athletic or tennis shoes are acceptable. Shoelaces should match the color of the shoe, be free of charms or other decoration, and be tied. Velcro fasteners on shoes are acceptable. Sandals, crocs, flip-flops, clogs, high top, or light up tennis shoes, shoes with a concealed incline wheel, platform shoes or heels higher than one (1) inch are not permitted.

Shirts should be tucked in. Layering of additional garments such as turtlenecks is prohibited. Modesty shorts in solid navy are required under jumpers and skirts for PreK-5th grade girls. Undergarments that can be seen through white oxford shirts should be white and free of graphics and advertising. Non-uniform coats and jackets with zippered or buttoned fronts can be worn outdoors in colder weather and are hung in student cubbies or lockers during the day. The school sweater, school sweatshirt, or school jackets are the only articles allowed indoors as covering over the school uniform. Students may wear non-uniform coats and jackets when traveling from the school building to the church for Mass in colder weather. If students are on the altar, the only acceptable outerwear is the school cardigan sweater. Ties should remain on (not loosened or removed) until students have returned to their lockers upstairs.

Students are expected to be neat, clean, and well groomed. Hair should be worn neatly and not interfere with vision.

Extreme or exaggerated haircuts or styles including shaved styles, bleached, or dyed hair in colors that do not occur in nature are not permitted. Boys’ hair must be cut above the ears and shirt collar in back. Boys may not wear ponytails or braids. Girls may wear hair bows, scrunchies, barrettes, headbands, etc. in solid school colors or the school plaid.

Florescent or neon colors and bandanas are not permitted.

Jewelry should be minimal. Watches that do not beep or chime may be worn. Religious medals or crosses may be worn under uniform shirts or blouses. Girls may wear a small ring, and stud earrings. Body piercing is prohibited with the exception of a single ear piercing on the lower ear lobes for girls. Additional jewelry, wristbands make-up, nail polish, false nails, hair extensions, and tattoos are not worn.

PARKER SCHOOL UNIFORMS

UNIFORM REGULATIONS & DRESS CODE GIRLS PRE-K—3RD GRADES Official Uniform  Plaid jumper with emblem (no shorter than 1 inch above knee)  White blouse with navy piping  Navy snap tie  Modesty shorts in solid navy  Solid white or navy socks or tights

Options  Navy walking shorts (no shorter than fingertip length) or slacks  Brown braided belt (required with shorts/slacks in 1st-3rd grades)  Green knit shirt worn with shorts or slacks only  Blue knit shirt worn with shorts or slacks only  Navy cardigan with monogram, school sweatshirt or school jacket  School t-shirt worn on designated t-shirt days only

GIRLS 4TH—5TH GRADES Official Uniform  Plaid skirt (no shorter than 1 inch above knee)  White oxford blouse with monogram  Navy snap tie  Modesty shorts in solid navy  Solid white or navy socks or tights  Black, brown, navy, gray, tan or white shoes

Options  Navy walking shorts (no shorter than fingertip length) or slacks  Brown braided belt (required with shorts/slacks in 4th-5th grades)  Green knit shirt worn with shorts or slacks only  Blue knit shirt worn with shorts or slacks only  Navy cardigan with monogram, school sweatshirt or school jacket  School t-shirt worn on designated t-shirt days only

GIRLS 6TH—8TH GRADES Official Uniform  Navy kilt skirt (no shorter than 1inch above the knee)  White oxford with monogram  Navy snap tie  Solid navy socks (knee-hi)  Black, brown, navy, gray, tan or white shoes

Options  Navy or khaki culotte skort (no shorter than fingertip length)  Navy or Khaki slacks  Navy knit shirt worn with skorts or slacks only  Green knit shirt worn with skorts or slacks only  Yellow knit shirt worn with skorts or slacks only  Navy cardigan with monogram, school sweatshirt or school jacket  School t-shirt worn on designated t-shirt days only  Solid navy or white socks or tights

BOYS PRE-K—5TH GRADES Official Uniform  Navy shorts (no shorter than fingertip length) or slacks  Plaid button down shirt with emblem   

Brown braided belt (1st-5th grades) Solid white or navy socks Black, brown, navy, gray, tan or white shoes

Options  Green knit shirt  Blue knit shirt  Navy cardigan with monogram, school sweatshirt or school jacket  School t-shirt worn on designated t-shirt days only

BOYS 6TH—8TH GRADES Official Uniform  Navy slacks  White oxford shirt with monogram  Navy & Khaki tie  Brown braided belt  Navy or black socks  Black, brown, navy, gray, tan or white shoes

Options  Navy or Khaki shorts (no shorter than fingertip length) or slacks  Green knit shirt  Navy knit shirt  Yellow knit shirt  White socks  Navy cardigan with monogram, school sweatshirt or school jacket  School t-shirt worn on designated t-shirt days only PARKER SCHOOL UNIFORMS

PARKER SCHOOL UNIFORMS

MIDDLE SCHOOL ELECTIVES INCOMING 6TH, 7TH, & 8TH GRADE STUDENTS: 2017-2018 Dear Incoming 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Students and Parents, It’s time to select the electives that you would like to take in 6th, 7th & 8th grade. In addition to the state requirement for PE, students have the opportunity to select from the electives on the following page. We also require that during their three years of middle school, students take Technology I. During a student’s 7th or 8th grade year, it is required to take one, yearlong foreign language course. Some courses offered are yearlong and others are semester long. All classes meet a minimum of 2-3 times per week. As you rank your choices, please keep in mind that band and PE - Angels have a financial commitment involved. If you are serious about taking one of these two courses, please rank them as a high choice.

We continue to work with Conroe ISD so that we can offer some electives as high school courses. Health class continues to be a high school level class required by CISD. Health is a yearlong course and is available to students in 8th grade. Spanish I and Spanish II will be yearlong courses which will cover the high school Spanish TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills). Spanish I and Spanish II can be taken in 7th and/or 8th grade. Health and Spanish classes will follow the high school TEKS and utilize a high school level textbook. In order to meet high school requirements, homework, tests, quizzes, and semester exams may be given. Upon satisfactory completion of courses, students will receive a letter of completion from St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School and CISD will have the option to issue the high school credit upon review.

Offering several choices will allow students to sample various electives that spark their interest. We ask students to rank their preferences. However, due to scheduling constraints, a tentative budget, and staffing requirements, students are not guaranteed all of their top ten choices. We will do our best to schedule students into those courses that they rank highest. In the event that not enough students sign up for a course, the course may be cancelled. Students will be notified on the first day of school in August of their elective schedule. Please take your time in filling out and ranking your courses as it may be impossible to change your schedule in the fall.

Please sign and return the appropriate form(s) below to school no later than May 31st. If this elective form is not turned in by the due date, students will be placed in electives where spots are available.

Sincerely,

Reneé B. Nunez

Kendall Shamas

Principal

Assistant Principal

 6TH GRADE ELECTIVES FORM  7TH GRADE ELECTIVES FORM  8TH GRADE ELECTIVES FORM  MIDDLE SCHOOL ELECTIVES DESCRIPTIONS

ATHLETICS

All students who are interested in participating in fall sports must complete the following forms that are located on our website. Click the link to download and complete.

Fall Sports Commitment Form—2017-2018 Sports Physicals Form—2017-2018 ATHLETICS PHYSICALS St. Anthony of Padua will be offering sports physicals for the upcoming 2017-2018 school year. This is a great opportunity to get these out of the way early! Memorial Hermann will be on campus in the gym / locker room area on: Wednesday, May 24th from 3:30pm - 5:00pm.  The cost will be $20 per child.  Physical forms can be printed, and filled out ahead of time except for the actual “Physical Examination” page. These forms can be found on the Athletics page of the SAOP school website. Sports Physicals Form—2017-2018  Any 8th graders wishing to get physicals for high school may also come, but need to bring a blank physical from the high school which they plan to attend in the fall.  Physicals will be good for the entire 2017-2018 school year.  All students must have an updated physical on file before participating in practices or games for school sports (fall sports practices may begin a few days before the start of school).  Students in 6th – 8th grade (5th grade JV Soccer, CC & Track) are eligible to participate in school sports. The sports that will be offered in the 2017-2018 school year are as follows:  Football, Cross Country, Co-ed Soccer, Girls Volleyball (Fall)  Boys & Girls Basketball (Winter)  Baseball, Softball, Track and Field (Spring)  Cheer / Dance Team

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION INFORMATION

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SUPPORT OUR MISSION Over the past 17 years, investment from St. Anthony of Padua contributors has made a tremendous impact on student achievement and success. Building a strong stewardship culture provides the school with a competitive advantage and translates into stronger programs, improved facilities and an overall better educational experience for our students. The funds generated through tuition provide us with a school, but additional income generated through advancement initiatives makes our school exceptional and unique. Mark your calendars for our 2017-2018 events and programs that support our school!

2017-2018 GIVING OPPORTUNITIES THE FUND FOR ST. ANTHONY The Fund for St. Anthony is vitally important as St. Anthony relies on income from charitable contributions to help reach a balanced budget each year. The actual cost of educating each student is significantly greater than the tuition we pay. The Fund for St Anthony provides the necessary means to close this “gap”. Dolphin Donor Day—on November 15, 2017—is a 24-hr. fundraising event designed to encourage all alumni, faculty, parents, and friends to support the Fund for St. Anthony. Your gift, no matter the size, makes a huge impact on the lives of our students and helps us continue to develop joyful disciples of Christ.

STEPS FOR STUDENTS February 17, 2018 Steps for Students is an annual Archdiocesan-wide event where all school and parish communities can come together as one to support Catholic education. The goal of Steps for Students is to raise awareness of the importance of a Catholic education and provide much needed resources for our Catholic schools. This day of family fun includes a 5K USA Track and Field Association sanctioned race and post-race party.

LUCKY HEARTS – AUCTION GALA April 13, 2018 The annual auction gala is a fun evening for parents, friends and family of the St. Anthony of Padua community consisting of cocktails, dinner, dancing and silent and live auctions. Socials (or sign-up parties) are fun ways that everyone can participate in the fun! We have some exciting new additions planned for next year’s event!

SHOP TO GIVE BACK! BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION

DO YOU SHOP AT AMAZON?

Did you know that each box top generates 10 cents for STAOPCS, and each label earns points that are redeemed for school products? You can help support your parish school by saving box tops and labels. They may be dropped off in the school office during regular school hours, or in the school drop box in the church narthex.

Box Tops have generated over $1,300 to support our school this school year!

A portion of your purchases can be directed to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School by shopping through Amazon Smile at: smile.amazon.com/ch/76–0652692

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 camp gear, uniforms & lunchboxes!

The mission of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School is to: Instill Roman Catholic identity, reverence for the sacraments and a lifelong commitment to joyful discipleship; Enrich students by fostering academic excellence and providing opportunities that nurture and challenge all to reach their full potential; Develop, with parents, the moral compass that guides students to serve with Jesus Christ as their model.

Have a great summer!