St. Viator Parish School
Viator Voice: September 11, 2022
Celebrate Patriot Day
Since 2002, September 11 has been celebrated as Patriot Day to honor the memory of the nearly 3,000 who died in the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Students are invited to wear red, white, and/or blue tops, socks, and accessories with uniform bottoms on Monday, September 12th to celebrate Patriot Day.
STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN-B ARE LIFELONG LEARNERS WHO LOVE TO LEARN
KB has been very busy. A trip to the 'Grow with Me' garden, P.E. with Mrs. Barnaby, learning with new friends at workshop, and putting our handprints on 'We Promise' commitment have been a few highlights so far. The theme for show and tell this month is bring something with the same letter as your first name and they are doing a great job. Our library book chats encourage kids to share what they think the story will be about and make book recommendations for others to check out! We are so proud of their hard work and kind hearts. ~Mrs. Jones & Mrs. Kiland
TESTING WEEK NEXT WEEK!
TERRA NOVA TESTING: Next week, Terra Nova testing will be administered to students in Grades 2 through 8. Taking tests can be hard work – requiring lots of energy. We recommend that students get plenty of rest and eat a nourishing breakfast and lunch on test days. Please be sure to have your children arrive at school on time. In addition, we would ask you to schedule routine doctor/dentist appointments away from next week. Homework assignments will be minimal during test week. Most importantly, don't forget to ask your child(ren) about the testing each day. Thank you!
Vote for St. Viator Parish School - PRIVATE SCHOOL
You can vote everyday from all of your devices. Let's show our school spirit and vote for SVS!
- Follow the link (click on Best of Las Vegas picture above)
- Click on Education
- Go to Private School and find St. Viator Parish School
- Click Review my ballot
- Click Submit my Vote
Click here to vote: https://www.votebolv.com
OPEN GYM BASKETBALL for 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Boys
To: St. Viator’s 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Boys
From: Mark Dreschler
Re: Basketball Open Gym
As I have done for many years, I am inviting any 6/7/8 grade boys interested in playing basketball to the School’s gym on Sunday, September 11 and 18th from 1-2pm for an open gym to play basketball. This is your time to play and work on your game.
This gives me the opportunity to discuss what skills I look for and for me to get to know you.
Of course, this is NOT mandatory and you do not have to be trying out for the school team to have some fun and get into some games with your classmates.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL SOCIAL
Back-to-School Social
Friday, September 16, 2022 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Volunteering is a great way to meet other families!!!
Click the link to sign up: BACK-TO- SCHOOL SOCIAL SIGN-UP GENIUS
JOIN US FOR OUR FIRST 22-23 PTO MEETING
SVS Parents, Teachers and Staff:
Kick off the back-to-school season in style, and come join us at our very first PTO meeting of the 2022 - 2023 school year!
When: Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Where: Parish Center
We will be serving Filipino Cuisine for dinner!
Meet new & returning families, and learn about what is happening in our amazing school!
Students whose parents attend the meeting will have a free dress day on Thursday, September 29th.
Grade 6 First Campus Ministry
Campus Ministry is back and sixth grade had their first today! In conjunction with Community Outreach (formerly Homeless Lunch) students learned a lesson about social justice and the poverty line. Through the lesson and through sharing with one another, these students were invited to make 200 Sunshine Kits for Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. Thank you to all of the families for donating supplies, and to our leaders, Rosy Hartz from Campus Ministry and Laura Alcaraz from Community Outreach! Lastly, thank you to all the volunteer parents from Community Outreach!
7th Grade Campus Ministry in conjunction with Community Outreach (formerly Homeless Lunch) is coming up on Tuesday, September 13, 2022.
We will be assembling Sunshine Kits to be donated to the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.
Please help make our Sunshine Kits complete by bringing:
7th Grade - JUICE BOXES
These can be dropped in the office and any number of donations are appreciated!
CMG trained & fingerprinted adults are welcome to help. Please meet at the Parish Center at 12:30pm for setup. Students arrive at 1:00pm for the Campus Ministry Program and assembly of Sunshine Kits. We are done by dismissal.
Questions? Contact Laura Alcaraz at 702-858-2626 or alaura@gmail.com.
Upcoming Campus Ministry Dates:
8th Grade - September 27, 2022
CMG CONNECT VOLUNTEERS
- All family members that wish to volunteer at SVS must complete the Safe Environment Training.
- Click here https://lasvegas.cmgconnect.org/ to create an account and complete your training (approx. 1 hour)
- After completing the training, please print your certificate and bring to the SVS office for a fingerprint package.
- Once the fingerprint packet is completed and returned it will be sent to the diocese of Las Vegas for review.
- The background check can take 4-6 weeks, but once you are approved you are able to volunteer on school property.
CHARLESTON WRAP FUNDRAISER UPDATE!
PTO’s Charleston Wrap fundraiser is off to a great start. And with your help we can make it a big success! The money earned from this fundraiser has been used year after year to help put on PTO events and fund projects around campus. Share with family and friends via email, text or post a link on your social media. This event runs through September 22nd, so don’t miss your chance to help out.
SVS Students Digital Artwork
The 2022-2023 school year marks our 8th year using Artsonia to showcase student work. Student artwork is displayed by grade in project galleries. Please check out their gift shop; they have a great gift center with your kid’s art on each piece. St. Viator’s art room gets 20% back, which helps us buy supplies that are above and beyond the standard items. They do all the work and it’s a great keepsake! Click to View School Gallery
COUNSELING CORNER
“Once you hear someone’s story, they are no longer a category and we have to see them as human.”
Phone, computer, and television screens are tough to contend with, right? And if we’re honest with ourselves, sometimes we have a tough time putting down the devices as well. This is true for all of us, especially as so much of life has moved to a digital platform. Don’t get me wrong, this allows for tremendous advances and access to amazing teaching tools, entertainment, and connection. But it can also, if we’re not careful, impede upon valuable time with our children. So how do we compete with screen time? Well, let’s think about this. Our students LOVE to be swept away to an alternate universe through devices, but we also have another option for this kind of escape. Alternate worlds are also available through the magic of BOOKS.
A great book can connect us to the world and help our students to ask the right questions in their world. It provides all the things a virtual world can do and more! Books universally connect us and can become a family ritual well worth adopting. We become the co-author to the writer and the reader brings the book to life!
That’s where reading, especially reading aloud with your children, enters the picture. Now I know what you’re thinking “But Monica, my child’s too old to read with” or “I don’t have time at the end of a difficult day to sit down and read a book” OR “My child won’t want to read with me.” All of the familiar reasons creep into our thoughts and discourage us from attempting to connect through books.
I agree with you and you’re not alone. We have all faced these challenges when finding time for the worthwhile. Oftentimes, we have to encourage our students to engage in things that are just plain good for them, right? This may take some coaxing, strong suggestions, or maybe (dare I say it?) some modeling? Remember, if you want to raise a reader, BE a reader.
But don’t stop here. Stay with me.
Reading aloud with your child increases an opportunity to gather together, increases bonding time, and creates moments of connectedness. And let’s not forget about the skyrocketing increase in literacy abilities, increased vocabulary, and practice socializing in a safe space (your family unit). We take this invaluable and simple practice for granted and forget the immeasurable impact it has on our children.
And parent/guardians/grandparents of our older students, don’t give up. This applies to you as well! It is a wonderful way for you to enter into the STUDENT’S world for a bit and bridge the gap that tends to creep in during those middle school and high school years.
Speaking of gaps, here are a few tips on how to bridge the gap in your reading time with your student:
1. Schedule a regular family reading time each day. (Make it a ritual.)
2. Join or start a parent/child book club. (Don’t be afraid to start one.)
3. Read book-to-movie combinations for your older students. (Kids love this connection.)
4. Let your child build a personal collection of books. (Nothing inspires as much as ownership.)
And remember, if you want to raise a reader, BE a reader and see how much the world opens up for you and your students. Most importantly, create opportunities for Long Study and Great Love. On a personal note, the best advice my son’s teacher ever gave to me was to take a book everywhere we went. She said it was the gateway to my son’s mind and heart. It was.
Stay well!
Monica Diaz
St. Viator Guidance Counselor
P.S. Additional interest on this topic? Check out Dr. Joseph Luzzi’s Tedx Talk entitled “How Literature Can Change Your Life.” Accessed 31 August 2022.
First Time FACTS SIS Login Instructions
Parents may now log in to access the family portal to check grades, send messages to teachers, fill out medical information and much more. To set up your access, please follow these simple login instructions:
Go to https://factsmgt.com.
1. Click on 'Family Log In' at the top right of the page. Select ‘FACTS Family Portal’.
2. Click on ‘Create New Family Portal Account’.
3. Enter the District Code, SV-NV.
4. Enter the parent e-mail associated with your school family account.
5. Click on ‘Create Account’.
6. You will then receive an email from FACTS. Check your e-mail, confirm and click the link to go back into the FACTS Family Portal set up. Follow instructions for first login by setting up a User Name and password. Log in using your new User Name and password.
FACTS has created a 5 minute Family Portal Overview video, which will give you an introduction to the system. Please watch it at your convenience by clicking here. The password to access the video is Portal(case sensitive).
If you have any questions, please contact the school office.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURE REMINDER
Dear Parents,
Parents in grades K-3 will be permitted onto the campus to pick up their children. Please park in the church lot, the East gate will be open at 2:40pm. All parents need to carry their family placard to show to the staff member assigned to the gate. Any family that forgets this will need to go to the office for ID verification before gaining access to the campus. Thank you and please reach out with any questions your family may have.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Katie Kiss
Principal
Mr. Mertzman
Vice Principal
WHAT'S HAPPENING!
Monday: September 12, 2022
- 8A Prayer & Flag, Good Samaritans
- Patriot Day - Wear red, white and/or blue tops, socks and accessories with uniform bottoms
- 3:45 PM Soccer Game at SFDS
Tuesday: September 13, 2022
- 1:00 PM 7th Grade Campus Ministry in Parish Center
Wednesday: September 14, 2022
- 8:15 AM School Liturgy for Grades 1- 4 (Dress Uniform)
- 8:00 AM First Halloween Carnival Meeting in Parish Center
- 3:45 PM Soccer Game at SEAS
- TUITION DUE
Friday: September 16, 2022
- 6:00 - 9:00 PM PTO Welcome Back Social
School Milk Orders
We are still accepting school milk orders!
Click the link: MILK ORDER FORM