Welcome back from Spring Break.  I hope everyone had a wonderful time with family and friends enjoying the beautiful, but windy, weather.  We now begin the fourth quarter.  This quarter always seems to fly by with our anticipation for summer. I do not know where the year has gone.  Third quarter report cards should be in your child's backpack by Friday.  Only first and second semester (final) report cards are mailed home. The second opportunity for parent/teacher conferences this year will be held on Wednesday, April 5th.  This is an early dismissal day which gives a teacher the entire afternoon to meet with parents.  The link to sign up for a conference time will be sent in a blast and posted on the website on Wednesday.  Teachers are extremely gracious with their time and have opened up several other opportunities to meet with parents.  Every teacher's availability is different beyond the Wednesday afternoon, so please check the schedules when posted. Teachers love to connect with all parents; therefore, regardless of your child's progress, please meet with a teacher.  Middle school does meet differently to allow time to meet with several teachers at one time or just one two.  Middle school teachers will be reaching out to you if there is a need.  If you wish for a meeting, please email your child's homeroom teacher and she can set something up for you.   

This Wednesday, the Home and School is pleased to offer a seminar on Internet Safety. The original notice stated Mr. Ed Russo was our guest speaker.  He has since retired and Mrs. Donna Eurich, Administrator of Education and Training, Office of Safe Environments for the Diocese of Palm Beach, has stepped in to speak.  She had worked with Mrs. Russo in years past and works closely with the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children.  She will be speaking to parents about Internet Safety & Digital Citizenship topics, which will include the vulnerabilities of children using current technology such as smart phones and social networking in terms of bullying and possible exploitation. Technology and mobile apps advance so quickly, it's hard to keep up with the latest online risks. However, our children quickly learn these apps and as responsible parents we must be informed. Mrs. Eurich will help you, the parent, and your children navigate a complicated virtual world. This informative session is for the parents of all children at our school. It is never too early to learn these dangers and it is imperative for 8th grade parents to be fully informed before your child goes to high school.  As parents, we must understand, what our children are doing, how it can endanger them, and what we can do to help.  Please join us at 6:00 PM in the gym.  We have had some requests to bring the children.  Although this is to be an adult only seminar, if you are in a bind with child care, you may bring your child. Our Extended School Day in the cafeteria will remain open until after the seminar.  There is no fee to attend during the seminar, but we are limited to 20 children. 

As we are almost at the end of our Lenten journey, our children from grades two to eight will be given the opportunity to attend Reconciliation services on Tuesday, April 4th.  This will be our second graders First Reconciliation and we are so proud of their important journey towards First Holy Communion.  Second grade teachers will be sending further information home about this very important event. If your family is not Catholic or your child has not made his/her Reconciliation, please reach out to the homeroom teacher.  We respect the wishes of all our parents, but at times students are embarrassed to say they cannot go.  We need to understand the full wishes of our families and cannot assume anything.  We simply ask those students who do not participate, to pray quietly in the church as others are receiving Reconciliation.

Have a wonderful week back.  We are very busy with Lent, sports, and drama.

Yours in Christ,

Jill Broz

Principal