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Weekly Notes from the Principal's Desk. . .

August 23, 2004

• Greetings and welcome to the 2004-2005 school year at Saint Ann School! It's hard to me to believe that an entire year has gone by since I wrote to you in my first newsletter as Principal. I appreciate all the support and prayers that helped make it such a rewarding year for me. I am eager to begin my first year as full-time Principal, but I couldn't let go of teaching entirely. I will be teaching the 7th/8th grade religion class, Monday through Thursday.
• We ask you to join us in welcoming our new faculty members and classroom aide. Mrs. June Martin and Ms. Shawna Gibbs will share teaching duties in the Middle School. For administrative purposes, Mrs. Martin will be considered 6th grade homeroom teacher, and Ms. Gibbs will be the homeroom teacher for 7th/8th grades. We also welcome Ms. Desiree Pritchard as Middle School aide. Many of you already know Ms. Pritchard as our volunteer math tutor last year. These talented women will be working together to create a dynamic learning environment for our older students.
• Visitors to campus: To help us maintain a safe educational environment, it is crucial that on-campus visitors sign in at the office. All visitors must also wear a visitor badge. These badges are available when you sign in. Teachers and associates will approach visitors who are not wearing visitor badges.
• Classroom interruptions: You will notice in the Parent-Student Handbook that we have stringent policies regarding classroom interruptions. Please do not interrupt classroom time unless you have made prior arrangements with your child's teacher and have signed in at the office. Office personnel will have a list of expected daily visitors.
• Snacks and lunches: Please make sure that your child comes to school after having a good night's sleep and nutritious breakfast. Please try to pack healthy snacks and lunches as well. It is important that students have their snacks/lunches when they come to school. However, if you must bring a snack/lunch to school due to unforeseen circumstances or special occasion, please label it with your child's name and bring it to the office. We expect that children will rarely need to have lunch delivered to the office.
• Attendance: Consistent and prompt attendance is crucial to school success. Please bring (or send) your child to the office if he or she is tardy (not in the classroom when the 7:30 AM bell rings). Please call the office by 8:00 AM on the day of your child's absence. Numerous tardies may result in a phone call from the teacher, a requested parent/teachers conference, or recommendation for monitoring by the Student Success Team (please review the Parent-Student Handbook for further details on the school's attendance policy).
• Parent Participation Contract: Information and contracts regarding parent participation hours are enclosed in this week's Monday Envelope.
• Uniforms: Please read the Parent-Student Handbook for information regarding our uniform and free dress policy. Parents will be notified if their children are not in compliance, and may be asked to bring to school appropriate clothing as necessary.
• Mass: Students in all grades will attend Mass on Fridays at 8:15 AM, beginning September 3. Kindergarten will usually attend on the first Friday of the month. If you would like to join your child(ren) at Mass, you are most welcome to do so. This Friday we will have a Back to School Prayer Service in the church at 8:15 AM. Please join us.
• Advisory Council and PTG: Parents are encouraged to attend the meetings of the School Advisory Council and the Parent Teacher Guild. Advisory Council meets on the last Monday of the month at 7:00 PM in the school library (starting in September), and the PTG meets on the second Thursday of the month (the September meeting of the PTG will be part of Back to School Night on September 2).
• Extended Day Program (EDP): We are very excited to offer this service to our Saint Ann School families who need a safe environment for their child(ren) outside of the regular school hours. As you know, Saint Ann School provides supervision for students from 7:15 AM to 2:15 PM. Now students on campus before 7:15 AM and after 2:15 PM will be escorted to the EDP. Parents who have not contracted this service will be billed at the drop-in rate of $2.50 per 15-minute interval. Parents who do not wish to be charged for this service must arrange for their children to arrive and depart within the regular school hours. Mrs. Lori Perry, Mrs. Tina Rockdale and Mr. Tony Little will be the EDP staff, along with volunteer homework aides. Thanks especially to Mrs. Rockdale who has organized this program.

Reminders:

We are looking forward to a school year full of God's blessings to our faith community. Thank you for joining us in our mission to be an effective education instrument of the Catholic Church.