St. Augustine Catholic School
October Newsletter
A Note From the Principal's Desk
October is a month dedicated to Mary, the mother of our Lord thanks to Pope Leo XIII many centuries ago. One of the ways we celebrate our Blessed Mother is to pray the rosary. The rosary is a devotion our Blessed Mother entrusted to St. Dominic in the 13th century. Did you know that “rosary” means garland of roses in Latin and is one of the most the most recognizable symbols of our Catholic Identity?
During this month, we take time to pray this beautiful prayer in several ways, beginning with our School Family Rosary that will take place the 27th of this month. Please make plans to attend this beautiful way to celebrate our Catholic Identity.
On the 27th, we will come together as an entire school body to pray the Living Rosary in our Mary Garden. This moving event is led by our Middle School students and is truly inspiring. I strongly encourage you as the primary educators of your child’s faith to take some time to pray the rosary as a family, especially in the month of October. What a beautiful way to thank our Mother for her intercessions and to pray for our intentions.
Mrs. Zuleyma's PK4 Class
Blessing of the Animals
Volleyball Team
Social Media Policy
Taking Pictures at Events
This week we were asked by a few parents about our Social Media Policy, since it deals with how to handle photographing students and/or things that are posted on social media.
The main point that I would like to convey to everyone is that safety comes first. If you are volunteering at any event such as chaperoning a dance, field trip or working in the lunch room, you are there to help supervise students. You also need to keep in mind that you represent St. Augustine Catholic School and that any remarks, photos, etc. should reflect positively on the school, the Archdiocese and even the Catholic Church! We just all need to be careful what we put out there! We also need to be aware that not every parent wants their child’s picture posted out on the world wide web. Parents have the option of “opting-out” and the school takes great care not to publish photos of those students if we are in the loop. Everyone should have returned their child's Permission for the Publication of Student Work/Pictures. We ask that you keep this in mind when taking pictures of students (when you’re not on duty of course). It is safer to send things through our school office to Tanya Gomez, our school secretary, or to get permission from the parents or the teacher first. We, the school, does all our posting to Facebook, newsletters, etc. and are always happy to use your photos!
We will also be hiring photographers for all our major events so that you can actually enjoy your child and be present in the moment, not behind a cell phone. If you are just visiting your child for a birthday, etc. we do understand that you may want to take a quick photo of him/her. Just please be careful as the lunchroom and carpool line are no cell phone zones (for safety reasons of course). This policy also pertains to employees and students, so this could prompt a good conversation with your child as their first educator. Have a great weekend and thank you for all you do to make this school amazing.
School Board News
School Strategic Plan
The School Board, along with Mrs. Rios, is working on our School Strategic Plan (5 year plan) and it's based on the input of the staff, parent community and the Archdiocese. We are working very hard to examine our strengths and determine areas for growth to look ahead and strive for excellence. This is why your input each year on our survey is so important, we listen and we act, keep that in mind! Our goal is to build a strong foundation for generations to come! If you would like to participate in developing our strategic plan please, email Mrs. Rios at drios@staugustinecs.org.
Box Tops Fundraiser
Trash to Treasure
Your trash can become our treasure. Last year we raised more than $800.00. If you have BOXTOPS that you are just throwing away, please drop them by the school office and we will put them to good use. We promise! Our next collection day is semester is October28th! Students who turn in their Box Tops Sheet completely full will receive a free dress day the following Monday, October 31st! You can find out more information by contacting Nikki Padilla at npadilla@staugustinecs.org.
Volunteers
We Need You! Very Important People (VIP)
Are you looking for a way to get involved with SACS? Parent volunteers are needed for many different things during the school day from office work to help in the classroom. Please consider coming to help us! Please contact Nikki Padilla at npadilla@staugustinecs.org.
All volunteers must be VIRTUS trained.
Save the Date
Gala and Spring Festival
Gala - January 21, 2017
Festival - March 26, 2017
Calling All Photographers
Click! Click! Click!
Do you love to take photos? This could be your call to share your talents with our school! Participate at our school activities and support our school taking pictures for our yearbook! We need a few photographers to be part of the St. Augustine Catholic School Yearbook Team! If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Gomez at tgomez@staugustinecs.org.
CORPORATE MATCHING FUNDS
Double Your Impact
Did you know that GE was the first company to offer company matching to non-profits in 1954? Today it is the easiest way to generate funds for our school. Hundreds of companies will support our school if you just show proof of your gift. Ask your company’s Human Resource department for information on their gift programs, fill out the paperwork and our Advancement Office will take it from there! Below is a listing of companies that have donated to the Archdiocese in the past; not all companies are listed and some programs may have changed. Support St. Augustine Catholic School! Find out if your company is one of these companies! Thanks for making a difference in our students education!
Matching Gift Companies Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
ACE INA Foundation Administaff Matching Gifts Aetna Foundation, Inc. AIM Foundation
Air Liquide America Corp.
Allstate Foundation
Amerada Hess Corporation
American Express Gift Matching Program American International Group Inc Anadarko Petroleum Corp.
Anderson Greenwood Anheuser-Busch Foundation Apache Corporation
Arco Foundation, Inc
Arco Steel Inc
Attachmate - Corporate Matching Funds Baker Hughes Foundation
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation
Bechtel Foundation Matching Gifts Program Beryl Resources LP
BHP Billiton
BNSF Foundation
Boeing
BP Amoco Foundation Inc.
Bridgeway Capital Management
British Telecom Americas Inc
Burlington Resources Foundation
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation
Cardinal Health Foundation
CEMEX Foundation Inc.
Champion International Corporation Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP ChevronTexaco Matching Gift Program Cisco Systems Foundation
Citgo Petroleum Corporation
Citigroup Foundation
CNA Foundation
ConocoPhillips Petroleum Co.
Cooper Industries
Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation Dominion Foundation Matching Gift Program Dow Chemical Company
Dresser-Rand
Duke Energy Foundation/ECO6Q
Dynegy Inc.
El Paso Corporation
Eli Lilly and Company Foundation
Enron
EOG Resources
Equistar Chemicals LP
Equiva Services LLC
Exxon Mobile Foundation
ExxonMobil Foundation
Fleet Boston Financial Foundation
FMC Technologies, Inc.
General Mills, Inc.
Global Santa Fe
Halliburton Political Action Committee
HCF Homebuilding Community Foundation Hewlett-Packard
Ikon Office Solutions Foundation
Intuit Foundation
John Hancock Matching Gifts Program
JP Morgan Chase Foundation
Key Foundation
Kinder Morgan Foundation
Kirby Inland Marine
Lubrizol
Lyondell Chemical Co
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
May Department Stores
Merrill Lynch & Company Inc.
MFS Investment Management
Microsoft Corporation
Mutual of America
Natexis Banque Matching Gifts
NationsBank
Newfield Exploration Company
Nexen Petroleum USA Inc.
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
NRG Global Giving
Nuevo Energy Company
Occidental Petroleum
Ocean Energy
Pfizer Foundation
PipeVine, Inc
Prudential Matching Gifts Program
SBC Foundation
Shell Oil Company Foundation
Southdown, Inc.
Square D Foundation
Teleflex Foundation
Tenet Healthcare Foundation
Tenneco
Texas Instruments Foundation
The Boeing Company
The Chase Manhattan Foundation
The Coca Cola Company
The Fluor Foundation
The Houston Exploration Company
The Spectra Energy Foundation Matching Gifts Program The Williams Companies, Inc
The Williams Companies, Inc.
Thompson West Community Partnership Program Transamerica Foundation (Matching Gifts)
Tyco Employee Matching Gift Program
UBS Foundation USA Matching Gift Program
Union Pacific
United Space Alliance
Valero Energy Corporation
Vastar Resources Inc
Wells Fargo Educational Matching Gift Program
*If your company is not listed, you can check with your Human Resources Department to see if they have a program that supports private schools.
FAMILY SCHOOL ROSARY
Praying Together
8th GRADE HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL
Join us for games, food, music, maze, hay ride, trunk or treat
craft vendor & a costume contest. Sacsco2017@yahoo.com or (713) 946-9050
No Adult/teenager clown costumes will be allowed.
The 8th grade class is hosting our Annual Halloween Carnival, scheduled for Friday, October 28th, from 6 to 10 pm. This is a great event for our St. Augustine community to come together for an evening of family fun! This is also a great opportunity to earn volunteer hours. Each classroom will manage a game, and 30 minute shifts will be requested. More information will be sent next week on the volunteer sign up. Please send in the following donations by Wednesday, October 26th. The St. Augustine Class of 2017 thanks you for your support!
• Grades PK3 – 4th grade: 2 large bags of candy
• 5th grade: Two 2-liter sodas & 1 large bag of candy
• 6th grade: Package of bottled waters & 1 bag of candy
• 7th grade: 12 pack of sodas & 1 bag of candy
SCHOOL NEWS
Unity Day
Together against bullying — united for kindness, acceptance and inclusion. Wednesday, October 19, 2016.
Make it ORANGE and make it end! What are your true colors when it comes to bullying? If you care about safe and supportive schools and communities make your color ORANGE on Unity Day. That’s the day everyone can come together – in schools, communities, and online – and send one large ORANGE message of support, hope, and unity to show that we are together against bullying and united for kindness, acceptance and inclusion.
Individuals across the nation, and even world-wide, can participate in Unity Day.
Wear Orange: Make a statement!
“ORANGE provides a powerful, visually compelling expression of solidarity,” said Paula Goldberg, Executive Director of PACER Center. “When hundreds of individuals in a school or organization wear orange, the vibrant statement becomes a conversation starter, sending the unified message to kids to know that they are not alone.”
School Community Mass
RED RIBBON WEEK
RED RIBBON WEEK is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program. Red Ribbon Week started after the death of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who in 1985 was killed in the line of duty.
After his death, people started wearing red ribbons to honor Kiki’s sacrifice. Today, millions of people celebrate Red Ribbon Week by wearing red ribbons, participating in community anti-drug events, and pledging to live drug-free lives.
Red Ribbon Week is a way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs. SACS will celebrate Red Ribbon Week with a kick off pep rally on Monday, Oct. 24th at 2:15! The Student Council has designated a special theme to each day of the week to promote making healthy choices and maintaining a drug free lifestyle.
There is no charge to participate in Red Ribbon Week!
WHEN
October 24th—28th
MONDAY
Lei Off Drugs! (Hawaiian theme)
TUESDAY
Too Smart to Start! (“Nerdy” theme)
WEDNESDAY
Power to be Drug-free! (Superhero theme)
THURSDAY
Drugs Aren’t Groovy! (Oldies theme)
FRIDAY
Sock it to Drugs! (Crazy Socks theme)
School Handbook
Mission Statement
The mission of St. Augustine Catholic School is
to enable all children to see themselves and others in the heart of Christ.
St. Augustine Catholic School
Email: drios@staugustinecs.org
Website: www.staugustinecs.org
Location: 5500 Laurel Creek Way, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: 713-946-9050