OUR LADY OF FATIMA
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL NEWSLETTER
March 3rd, 2017
"Catholic school graduates exhibit a wide variety of qualities that will not only help them in their careers but also in their family and community lives."
Joe Bacca
OUT AND ABOUT:
- Next Monday, March 6th we will begin our Terra Nova testing for students in grades three through seven. You can make sure your children do their best by having them get a good night sleep, eat a good breakfast, and arrives to school on time! In general the tests will take place the first three periods each day. The tests are sent out to be scored and the results will be mailed home as soon as they become available.
- Speaking of testing - save the date: March 27, I will be presenting the annual "State of the Schools" report in the Parish Center at 7:00 p.m. I will cover the areas of academic assessment results, enrollment, demographics, financial status, and plans for future growth. John Doyle, Board President, and Steve Soucy, Head of the Financial Committee, will also be speaking. I hope to see you there to discuss our wonderful school.
- Do you have a Thing One or Thing Two in your home? Thursday was both Dr. Seuss' birthday and National Read Across America Day. Pre-K, Kindergarten, and first-grade students had a range of different great Dr. Seuss activities; even kindergarten students eating Green Eggs and Ham. Yikes!
- As you know, we have had two snow days so far this year. This means our last day of school is now Friday, June 16th. Eighth-grade graduation is still scheduled for June 9th. Since we are now in March, hopefully, you will not awaken to another early morning phone call from me, and we have had the last of our school snow days.
- Our students received their ashes at Wednesday's Ash Wednesday church service. A good family discussion is what each family member is planning to give up for Lent. Or maybe, what is each family member is committed to doing more of over the next 40 days? As you know, we are the best models for our children.
- Is your child missing a winter sweater, coat, notebook, or lunch box? Stop at our School's Lost and Found. It is packed with left behind items.
- Save the Date: the 3rd annual Our Lady of Fatima Talent Show is scheduled for April 7th at 1:00 p.m. Auditions will be held March 15th and 16th. Permission slips were sent home this past week.
- Last Thursday we had several interesting visitors to our school. Dr. Steve Cagliostro and his assistant visited first and second classrooms for National Dental health Care Month. Dr. Cagliostro demonstrated proper brushing technique and described the purpose and function of teeth. In 5th grade, Sandy and Kathy Zimmer visited the 5th grade class and described their trip to the country of India, thanked the students for their fundraising, and described the work being done at the Paul Navajeevan Home for girls. Both were excellent.
- Career Day is coming to OLF. On March 31st, middle school students will hear about a wide-range of careers. Thank you to Mrs. Mancuso and Mrs. Beggan for arranging.
- This is a great time of the year to curl up with a good book - does your child need a fresh supply of books to read? Or, do you have many children and young adult books in your home that your children have outgrown? We have the answer: Mara Fleming and Karin Beggan are planning the "First Annual School/Parish Book Share." From next Monday, March 6th through Wednesday, March 8th OLF and Religious Ed students will be invited to clean out their home bookshelves by bringing in as many used, loved, and well-worn children's, juvenile and young adult books as they wish to our school's front lobby. We will then sort and arrange the books. On Friday, March 10th and Saturday, March 11th your child may come with a bag from home to "shop" the shelves for new-to-them books to bring home and keep. Mara and Karin want to stress that this is not a fundraiser - it is entirely free. "Give a book, take a book -Give a bunch, take a bunch!" All books remaining after 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 11th will be donated to the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport. Great idea, Mara and Karin!
- At the board meeting, I took the position that after lowering of the registration fee to only $50 and with the tuition fee for 17/18 not being raised, we did not need any more incentives for families to register early. Thank you to everyone who has registered already! Registration for the 17-18 school year is taking place right now. Especially at the primary grade level, but at all grade levels, knowing our expected numbers will help us tremendously in our planning. Please put it on your "to do" list. The 17/18 school year registration forms were sent home but also can be found on our website. All registration must be completed at our school before you apply for Bishop Scholarship grants through the diocese. Bishop Scholarship applications are due by April 1st. Please see Diane in the office with any registration questions. Also, please make sure that Diane is aware if you referred any new family to us so you can receive your discount.
- Are you looking for child care this summer? Does your child like basketball? Did you know that Our Lady of Fatima offers a great basketball camp every summer for students entering grades 3-8? It will run weekly from July 10th to August 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The camp fee is $250 per week. For more information call Linda Sweeny at 203-434-4341 or email her at [email protected]. I was here last summer and it is a dynamite camp and a great experience for the kids.
- Are you a connoisseur of fine wine? The H.S.A. will be hosting a Grapes.com Wine Tasting event on March 11th at 7:00 at the Parish Hall. The cost is $25 per person and the event is limited to 50 people. The wine tasting will feature six affordable core wines and four specialty wines. Cheese and crackers will be served. Please RSVP to [email protected]. All RSVP must be in by today, March 3rd.
- Have you made a tax deductible contribution to our Fatima Faith Fund this year? If not, please consider doing so. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and very needed for our school.
- Mrs Primps will be selling Girl Scout Cookies after-school on Tuesday, outside weather permitting, or in the gym. Do you need your Thin Mints fix?
- The OLF Theatre Group is hosting a St. Patty's Day Supper!! Enjoy a Home Cooked Irish Buffet of Shepherd's Pie, Corned Beef, Bangers, Irish Soda Bread and much more. Music, basket raffles and time spent with friends will take place in the OLF Gym from 6- 8 pm on Friday March 17th. All are welcome! Tickets are $14 for adults and $6 for children under 12-sold at the door. To help determine a headcount, kindly RSVP to Anne Benanti at [email protected]
- Mark your calendars: Saturday, May 13th is the 100th anniversary of the Blessed Virgin appearing at Fatima. We are having a long Spring Musical play practice that day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. I am asking all students to bring their school uniforms to play practice and stay for the procession led by Bishop Caggiano, then 5:30 Mass, and then a reception hosted by the parish. All Fatima students and their families are encouraged to attend this very special and important day. All Fatima students are encouraged to wear their uniforms to Mass that Saturday! Each student who attends the Saturday Mass in Uniform will get a Dress-Down Day Coupon for the following week!
- Get out and start jogging.Gabrielle Casole, Amber Pace, Caroline Sweeny and I are working on planning the First Annual OLF 5K Race on June 3rd. More information to follow but you now have a fitness goal. We are hoping to attract many alumni to participate. A special thank you to Diane's husband, Rick for consulting with us. If you are interested in helping with the planning, our next meeting is this Monday at 3:00 p.m.
- Attention all mothers of young children. Our Young Mother's Group has begun again. The goals of the group are to provide a discussion and support experience for the mothers and also provide a socialization experience for the young children. We are meeting twice a month on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and we are partnering with the Wilton's Mothers Group. Our next meeting will be on March 22nd and all mothers with young children under three years old are welcome. Please call me if you have any questions.
- Want to get top dollar for unwanted or broken gold, silver, antique, or diamond jewelry? The HSA will host a "Cash for Gold" event on Saturday, March 11th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the school gym. Make some money from those broken pieces, unwanted items, and single earrings!
- The big H.S.A. Spring Gala on April 29th at the Rolling Hills Country Club. This venue can host up to two hundred people, so invite your friends and get ready to party. For more information contact Joanne Salageanu at [email protected] or Carrie Shaffer at [email protected].
"SHOUT OUT 1"
Susan Kellogg and Susan Schneider. We are so fortunate every day to have a highly skilled nurse at our school to provide high-level medical care for our students. While Ms. Kellogg and Ms. Schneider are different in personality, they are the same in the high-level of professionalism. What is unique about being a school nurse is that you do not have a range of medical colleagues to consult with, but have to depend on your own experience and judgment to make many decisions. Sue and Susan could not be better at this difficult job! Thank you for all the help you provide us!
"SHOUT OUT 2"
Mara Fleming. As everyone knows Mara is the guiding spirit behind our joy providing Pep Squad and the guiding force behind the Parish's important youth ministry program. But Mara does so much more: she runs Tuesday' Homework Help; she comes up with great ideas like student EMT Training, the first annual School/Parish Book Swap, and planning the procession for the May 13th Fatima Celebration. Mara is of invaluable help in our school, in our H.S.A., and in our Parish community. She is a wonderful role-model for all of us!
COMING EVENTS:
March 6th through March 17th -
Terra Nova testing for grades 3-7
March 6th - March 11th - First Annual School/Parish Book Swap
March 7th - School-wide assembly to prepare for Jump Rope for Heart
H.S.A. meeting at 7:00 pm.
March 10th - 7th grade French Fashion Show
March 11 - H.S.A. Cash for Gold event from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
H.S.A. Wine Tasting Evening in the School Gym from 5:00 pm to
11:00 p.m.
March 15/March 16 - Talent Shows auditions
March 17th - St. Patrick's Day Supper from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
March 21st - Jump Rope for Heart during gym classes
March 22nd - Mother's Group from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
March 23rd - Kindergarten and First Grade field trip to see "Little Red Riding Hoods."
March 24th - Safe Environment Training for students in grades K-8
March 28th - The Tooth Fairy will be visiting Pre-K and Kindergarten classrooms
"State of the School" report in the Parish Center beginning at 7:00 p.m.
March 30th - Group photos for yearbook (sports teams, clubs, etc.)
March 31st - Marks close for the third quarter
Career Day for Middle School students in the afternoon
April 3rd - Parent only Eucharist meeting for second-grade parents
April 5th - Mother's Group from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
April 6th - 7th graders leading Stations of the Cross beginning at 10:15 a.m.
April 7th - Report Cards sent home
First Friday Mass hosted by Grade 5
School Talent Show at 1:00 p.m.
April 10th through April 14th - School closed for Spring Recess
April 17th - School closed for Easter Monday
April 18th - School resumes
April 19th - Mother's Group from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
April 29th - H.S.A. Spring Gala at the Rolling Hills Country Club
May 2nd - H.S.A. meeting at 7:00 p.m.
May 4th - Rehearsal at 4:00 p.m. in the church for second graders making their First Eucharist
May 6th - First Eucharist for second graders at 9:30 a.m.
May 7th - H.S.A. Mother-Son event
May 10th - 5th/6th/7th grade field trip to Sturbridge Village
May 11th - 8th Grade trip to Boston
May 12th - School living Rosary celebrating Our Lady's appearing at Fatima
May 13th - Parish celebration for the 100th anniversary of Our Lady appearing at Fatima in 1917. Procession beginning at 4:45 p.m., followed by 5:30 Mass with Bishop Caggiano, followed by a reception at the church
May 14th - Mother's Day
May 20th - Spring Musical, The Snow Queen, at 7:30 p.m.
May 21st - Spring Musical, The Snow Queen at 3:00 p.m.
May 29th - Memorial Day - No school
June 2nd - Spring Concert
June 6th - Professional Staff Development - No school for students
June 8th - 8th- grade luncheon
June 9th - 8th-grade graduation
June 13th - Field Day
June 16th - Last Day of School
June 26 to June 29th- Vacation Bible Camp
July 10 through August 4 - Summer Basketball Camp between 9:00 and 300
AND FINALLY:
Looking for a good spiritual book to read during the Lenten season? John Doyle is recommending
"Jesus: A Pilgrimage" by Fr. James Martin. John says, "This book is Fr. Martin's travel memoir of his trip to the Holy Land.
It's arranged in the order of events of described (and compared) in the gospels - his visits to the holy sites and places of the stories today (both cheesy and profound), setting them up during the time they happened with details and considering the questions that inevitably come up in recounting the gospel stories."
I have not read this book, but I have read "My Life with the Saints" by Father Martin, so I know this book will be worth your time. Give it a try!
