Principal Notes 02/05/2016
St. Cecilia School
Notes from the Principal
Catholic Schools Week - Volunteer Appreciation Recognition
These three volunteers were recognized during Catholic Schools Week. If you see them, please tell them thank you for all they do and thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers!
Shannon Schroeder
Shannon Schroeder has been a homeroom parent, volunteer and SCRIP coordinator for many years. Shannon was also active in getting First Lego League to our school and served on the Family School Association, yearbook and gala committees. She’s worn many hats. We just wanted to let her know how much we appreciate all she’s done for St. Cecilia School and the legacy she’s left behind.
Bob Hauser
What more can we say about Bob Hauser? He not only helps us with the music at our weekly All School Masses, but he helps us with our May Crowning, 5th Grade Graduation and so much more! He doesn’t like to cause ‘treble’ and would never ‘harmony’ one. He’s a pretty ‘clef’-er guy. Even when he’s busy, Mr. Hauser will still give you a ‘minuet’ of his time. He’s always ‘in tune’ with what’s going on. He is really ‘sharp’ and will laugh even when your joke falls ‘flat.’ We are lucky to have him on staff!
Karen Burianek
Karen Burianek has been a volunteer at St. Cecilia School for many years. Karen was an active parent volunteer when her children were at St. Cecilia School and has continued to be a volunteer after they graduated. She helps in so many ways, always ready to help meet our needs. Karen uses her special talents in our preschool classroom three days a week and the children absolutely love her! We appreciate all you do for us!
Archbishop Kucera Grant
St. Cecilia Catholic School Board of St. Cecilia School is the recipient of $11,055 from the Archbishop Kucera Grant Awards from the Archdiocese of Dubuque Educational Development Fund.
The grant was awarded for tuition assistance to those families who can least afford the cost of attending a Catholic School. A portion of the grant was also directed towards tuition assistance for minority students who qualify for Federal School Lunch Program. Awards for these two programs totaled $500,000 for the 2015/16 program year. The Archbishop Kucera Grant Awards annually provides $100,000 for faith formation resources and leadership development for faith formation leaders, catechists, Catholic school administrators and teachers. The grant also covers one third of the program cost for adults enrolled in the Archdiocesan IMPACT Program.
Student Tuition Organization (STO) and Tuition Assistance
I want to encourage families that are interested in assistance to open the attached letter that provides more details. Many of our families receive financial assistance to attend St. Cecilia and we encourage these families to apply for this assistance. This year a family of four can earn $72,900 and a family of seven can earn $110,190 and be eligible for STO funding. If STO does not meet your financial needs, you can apply to our local tuition assistance through St. Cecilia Parish. You must apply to STO as our local tuition assistance uses their financial need formula to help base their decision. Your completed application must be post-marked or filed electronically by March 24, 2016.
STO paper applications can be picked up in the school office or you can apply online at www.psas.org. If you need assistance completing this application, please call the school office. Please contact Mr. Rowlands if you have any questions. We are hoping that we can make it financially affordable for all families to send their children to St. Cecilia.
Math Tutoring
Recently a retired teacher contacted the office about wanting to assist tutoring a student that is struggling in Math. Please contact the office if think your child can benefit from the volunteer tutoring. We will work with you and the tutor to determine what will work for the tutor and your child.
Kindergarten Round Up – February 11 & 12, 2016
Kindergarten Round Up – February 11 & 12, 2016 –
Please share with your friends and family!
Dear Parents,
The first part of our annual Kindergarten Round-Up will take place on Thursday, February 11, 2016, starting at 6 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the St. Cecilia Education Center. This is a registration session for parents/guardians only. The agenda will include some information about St. Cecilia School, some general kindergarten classroom information and registration.
Registration packets will be provided for you at this meeting, with the necessary forms to complete since formal registration will take place during our meeting time. Please bring the following paperwork with you:
- Birth Certificate Copy
- Baptismal Certificate Copy
- Immunization Record Copy
- Physical Form Copy
- Lead Testing Copy (may be included on physical form)
- Vision Exam Copy
- Dental Exam Copy
- $100 Deposit (refundable until June 30, 2016)
The second part will be the Kindergarten Round-Up visit for you and your child, which will take place on Friday, February 12th, from 9:30-11:00 a.m. in the Kindergarten Room of the St. Cecilia Education Center. Your child will be in the kindergarten classroom working on a variety of activities while you are invited to the north social hall with our Family School Association volunteers for refreshments, question/answer time and tours of the school. At 11 a.m., you’ll meet back up for lunch. The lunch menu will be Smuckers PB&J, yogurt, Sunchips, carrots, applesauce and milk. Our Family School Association will be purchasing your lunch, so all we will need is your RSVP the night of Kindergarten Round Up.
People of all faiths are invited to consider a Catholic Christian education for their children at St. Cecilia School. The St. Cecilia School staff is highly committed to providing a quality faith-based education for your children. We look forward to welcoming those who share the same values concerning their children’s education. If you have any questions, please contact the school office at #515-232-5290. Hope to see you at Round Up!
Talent Show Pictures
If you have any talent show pictures you’d like to share, so we can display on our website and facebook, please email them to Tana Tesdall at ttesdall@stceciliaschoolames.org. Thank you.
SuperBowl Sunday - Hickory Park
Fifth Grade Class Trip Fundraiser-February 7th
Gift cards may be used for this purchase – SCRIP challenge on Monday. See attached flyer for details!
STEM
For our February STEM session we will be playing Math and Logic Games. This will take place on Thursday, February 11th from 3:30-4:30 in the MP Room. Please use the signup below to register your child and to volunteer to help.
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/5080F4FA9AB238-february
If you have questions, please contact Diana Thatcher at thatchmd@yahoo.com. Thank you.
Jump Rope for Heart
Jump Rope for Heart is coming soon to St. Cecilia PE! We will have our kick-off assembly on February 11th with Amy Knoll from the American Heart Association as well as a special four-footed guest! The theme this year is all about dogs and our students have the opportunity to start now in helping to raise money for the American Heart Association online. Please check out the flyer to learn more about Jump Rope for Heart which will also help us raise awareness and funds for the American Heart Association!
Spelling Bee
The local Knights of Columbus will be hosting the annual Ames Area Spelling Bee on Sunday, February 14, 2016, for students in grades 4 through 7. Detailed information--including registration form, date, location, rules and word lists--are available at the following web site: http://s.stceciliaparish.org/ameskoc/spelling.html
Key information:
- Free to all Ames-area 4th-7th grade students.
- Registrations due by Wednesday, February 10, 2016.
- Spelling Bee at 1pm on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, at St. Cecilia School, 2900 Hoover.
- Entry form, word lists, and additional information available at:
http://s.stceciliaparish.org/ameskoc/spelling.html
School Events
- Tuesday, 2/9: 7PM Family School Association Meeting
- Wednesday, 2/10: 9AM All School Mass (Ash Wednesday)
- Thursday, 2/11: 6PM Kindergarten Round Up/Parent Meeting (Part I)
- Friday, 2/12: 9:30AM Kindergarten Round Up & Lunch (Part II)
- Wednesday, 2/17: 9AM All School Mass
- Friday, 2/19: No School – Teacher InService
Other Events
St. Cecilia School
Website: www.stcames.org/school
Location: 2900 Hoover Avenue, Ames, IA, United States
Phone: (515) 232-5290
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stceciliaschoolames?