Saint Ann School News

• Registration information and forms are in this Monday Envelope. Due to the lower projected enrollment for next year, tuition costs had to be raised more than usual. Although lower class sizes have some advantages, they greatly impact the school’s finances. This rate increase is essential with an enrollment of only 109 students, BUT Fr. Bob has stated that we can then adopt a significantly smaller tuition increase (for example, $3,585 rather than $3,750 for one child, contributing parishioner, with scrip) IF we can increase the enrollment by another 30 students before the school year starts. In that case, we would inform you of the lower rates when you come back in the fall. Please read all the registration information carefully and return the completed forms on or before April 29.

• Tuition assistance applications are available in the School Office. If you are concerned that you cannot afford the new tuition rate, Fr. Bob and I encourage you to apply. As we have stated so many times in the past, no family should ever leave Saint Ann School because of financial considerations. Completed tuition assistance forms are due by April 15.

• Contributing / Non-Contributing Status – As you know, tuition rates have always been lower for registered, contributing members of Saint Ann Parish because it is assumed that registered parishioners support the parish financially, and the parish, in turn, supports the school. Some families either neglect to make the contributions or have failed to use their contribution envelopes. The tuition rate for families who do not actually contribute to the parish will be adjusted to the “Non-Contributing” rate.

• Additional Parish Contribution – Please remember that the $100.00 per child “Additional Parish Contribution” is due in full by May 1, 2008.

• Yesterday, April 13, we celebrated Pastor Appreciation Day. When you see Fr. Bob, please remember to thank him for his unwavering support of Saint Ann School.

• We now have Burger King scrip in $10 denominations at 4% rebate.

• Congratulations to Leah O., 6th Grade Student, who was chosen by the judges at the Kern County Science Fair to represent the county at the state level. Nice work, Leah!

• Congratulations to our students who attended the Battle of the Books in Bakersfield last Friday. They all had a fun day and competed well. Jennifer K., 5th Grade Student, was on the winning team of the combined-school groups.

• 5th Grade Basketball—Free admission at the Kerr-McGee gym! Please come support our girls!

April 15 (Tues), Girls @ 5:00 PM vs Pierce
April 18 (Fri), Boys @ 5:00 PM vs Las Flores

• The local Track Meet (which was supposed to be this Wednesday) has been cancelled. The message from the organizers said, “Unfortunately, we did not get enough participation this year from Monroe, Immanual, and Trona. The meet will be a practice instead. Any students wishing to practice for the junior Olympics are encouraged to show up.”

• Pope’s Visit to America: Pope Benedict XVI will be visiting America on April 15 – 20. Please pray for a safe and successful journey.

• Special Prayer Request for the School: As Christians, we all know that prayer is our most powerful weapon to bring about positive change and accomplish God’s work in our lives. You know that one of the requirements for a person to become a canonized saint is for the Church to be able to identify miracles attributed to that person. We invite you to use the list of the “saints in waiting” (see the reverse of this sheet) to pray with us for our school, students, families and staff. We’ve listed particular issues of interest associated with these “saints in waiting.” You could pray any way you’d like…choose one or all of the issues, focus on one of these holy people each day, etc. Let’s all send up our prayers for the school!

Upcoming Events:

Fri., April 18
School Mass, 8:15 AM, 7th Grade