OUR LADY OF FATIMA
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL NEWSLETTER
September 23, 2016
" True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost"
Arthur Ashe
OUT AND ABOUT:
  • Tonight is the big school/HSA Open School Night event! We begin at 6:00 p.m. and I look forward to seeing everyone. If by chance we have not met yet, please take a moment to introduce yourself to me.
  • I hope you have noticed - the students are back, getting into the school routine, and getting down to work. They are off to a great start!
  • We had our first meeting of the " Mom and Tots Playgroup " this past Wednesday. This group is planning to meet for ten weeks on Wednesday mornings in our school from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and all mothers with young infants are welcome. At this meeting, we discussed a book that is a fantastic resource for all parents. It is called, " Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five." It is written by John Medina who is a developmental biologist. To Mr. Medina, "parenting is about brain development." In a very folksy and readable manner, Mr. Medina explores research on a wide-range of parenting practices and beliefs. One of my favorite insights from Mr. Medina was "if telling your child how smart they are would be a good way to improve their confidence?" Mr. Medina says this is not a good way to improve their confidence. He says that psychologists say that praising a child for being smart, "is appealing to a fixed mindset." Mr. Medina says it is more important to praise them for their effort and quotes research where students praised for their effort, completed 50%  more difficult math problems than students praised for their intelligence. Fascinating!
  • STEM classes are up and meeting weekly for all students in grades second through eighth. Thanks to Mrs. Highland for all her work making this a reality at our school
  • While talking about STEM - Adrian passed on information to me concerning the Amazing Girls Science Conference . This conference, for all girls in grades fourth through eighth, is going to be held on Saturday, October 22 nd from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Norwalk Community College. It has the goal of getting the fourth through eighth-grade girls excited about science, engineering, technology, and math. The girls will participate in hands-on technology and math exhibits. To register your daughter, just go to http://www.amazinggirlsscience.com/ to register. What if all the Fatima girls who attend could wear their Fatima shirts to NCC?
  • Students have adjusted well to the new lunch procedures and tables.
  • Our marketing committee is up and running. We are planning an Open House here on October 16 th to attract new families for the 17-18 school year. Over the summer, I attended a marketing conference and they made the point that parents born after 1980 tend to believe their peers more than they do an authority figure. This means what you say about our school at the local gym, post on social media, or tell other parents about our school at the supermarket carries more weight than even what I say when I talk to prospective parents.
  • Our field hockey team has sixteen girls playing this fall with two new coaches. Thanks to Wilton Juniors, Kelly Pinner and Caroline Sweeny, for agreeing to coach our girls so we could field a team again this year.
  • HELP US Earn Cash for OLF with Stop & Shop A+ School Rewards.
Our Lady of Fatima is participating in A+ School Rewards, a great fundraising program run through our local Stop & Shop! This is an easy way for you and your entire family (grandparents and others) to help our school earn CASH each time you shop at  any  Stop & Shop Store. It's EASY! Visit  www.stopandshop.com/aplus  and select register your card, which is located in the red box on the right   for customers. Follow the prompts to complete your registration. You will need your 13-digit   Stop & Shop Card number .   Check out this flyer  to learn more and share it with friends, extended family and other OLF parishioners.  
  • Looking for something to do this weekend? Our friends at the Wilton Library are having their annual Awesome Autumn Book Sale Fundraiser . Take the kids, and bring home some excellent and cheap books. I strongly believe that students who read for pleasure have developed a hobby that will provide them with lifelong benefits.
  • The October lunch menu is up on our website.
  • I would like to try to implement a new routine to organize the morning drop off a little bit better. I have discussed this with Father Reggie, and in the morning we would like to make the lane between the first two rows of parked car, this is the lane closest to the school, a walking only lane. This means all car drop-offs should take place in the second row of parked cars. I thank everyone in advance for your cooperation on this important safety protocol.
"SHOUT OUT I"
Geri Galasso. Every day Geri teaches classes to six different levels of middle school math. In addition, she organizes 8 th -grade fundraising events, arranges high school visits, and plans 8 th -grade field trips. This year, she has been doing all this without even a full set of the Foundations of Algebra textbooks for 7 th and 8 th graders- they still are on back order from the publisher. Thanks for all you do, Geri!
"SHOUT OUT II"
Marie Beltrami. Marie has been running our After-School Program for sixteen years and doing a great job. After I was appointed this past summer, Marie made an appointment to see me. She wanted to make sure I did not raise the tuition this year for the After-School program because she feels strongly it is a service we do for the families of Fatima. This year, as you know, Marie has been running the program with only one arm. Marie, you are the best!
COMING EVENTS:
September 23 rd - Open School Night beginning at 6:00 p.m. for entire school with HSA Dinner to follow at 7:00 p.m.
September 27 th -Technology Committee meets at school at 7:00 p.m.
September 28 th - Mom and Tots Playgroup at 10:00 a.m.
September 30 th - Family Movie Night
October 4 th - H.S.A. meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m.
October 5 th - Mom and Tots Playgroup at 10:00 a.m.
October 7 th - First Friday mass hosted by Grade 4
October 10 th - No school for Columbus Day
October 12 th - Mom and Tots Playgroup at 10:00 a.m.
October 13 th - OLF hosting cross-country meet at Mervin Meadows
October 14 th - School Walkathon
October 16 th - Open House for new students from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
October 17 th - Lifetouch school photos
October 18 th - Lifetouch school photos
October 19 th - Mom and Tots Playgroup at 10:00 a.m.
October 20 th - Living Rosary
October 21 st - Halloween Bingo
October 26 th - Mom and Tots Playgroup at 10:00 a.m.
November 1 st - H.S.A. meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m.
November 2 nd - Mom and Tots Playgroup at 10:00 a.m.
November 3 rd - Bob Bigelow's Coaches Clinic
November 4 th - First Friday mass hosted by the Student Government
November 8 th - No school - Teacher PD
November 9 th - Mom and Tots Playgroup at 10:00 a.m.
November 12 th - International Family Night in the gym
November 16 th - Noon dismissal for Parent/Teacher Conferences
       Mom and Tots Playgroup at 10:00 a.m.
November 17 th - Noon dismissal for Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 23 - Noon dismissal
     Mom and Tots Playgroup at 10:00 a.m.
November 24/25 - Thanksgiving Recess
November 29 th to December 2 nd - Scholastic Book Fair
December 1 st - 8 th graders to see the play, Wicked, at the Oakdale Theatre
     5 th graders baking Ginger Bread houses here in school
December 2 nd - First Friday mass hosted by Grade 7
December 6 th - H.S.A. meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m.
December 8 th - No school for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 11 th - School Christmas Party
December 21 st - Christmas Pageant at 1:00 p.m.
December 23 rd - Noon dismissal for Christmas recess
December 26 through January 2 - No school for Christmas recess

AND FINALLY:
Mrs. Fiorentini had a birthday this past week. She still looks very young, and I can't say how old she is, but who knew students in Kindergarten could count to 35? Happy Birthday, Ms. F!
Everyone have a great weekend!



























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