OUR MISSION:
St. Rita School inspires students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade eight to achieve academic excellence in a safe, nurturing and faith-filled Catholic environment.
We prepare students to be morally responsible, innovative thinkers who, in today’s technology-guided global community, live and share the Love of Christ.
 From the desk of Mrs. Tiezzi

Dear SRS Parents,
Thank you all for attending the two Back-to-School Nights we held last week. It was good to see so many of you and to share all the exciting things we have planned here at St. Rita. The students and teachers have settled in quite nicely. As our partner in educating your child/ren, I ask that you take some time over the next few days to review your expectations for your child/ren this year with them. Daily, the teachers and I reinforce with students the need to be respectful to everyone we encounter, take responsibility for our words and deeds, and do our best with our learning at all times. Your support of these goals is appreciated.
I hope to see you all this Sunday for our annual St. Rita Walk-a-thon. This tradition dates back well over 30 years and gives our big St. Rita family the opportunity to join together, enjoy some exercise and   fellowship, all while raising funds to support our school programming. The HSA works hard to put on this event and they are looking for your assistance to make it happen. Thank you for your support.
Just a reminder that school will be closed on Monday, September 25 so the teachers can attend the Catholic Educators Conference at the Aqua Turf. This professional development opportunity allows our teachers to join together with other Catholic school teachers from around the diocese. A number of our teachers will be honored for their service to Catholic education. We are so appreciative to them for dedicating their lives in service to our children. 
 Thank you for entrusting your child/ren to our care. Have an enjoyable week and Happy Autumn!

God Bless,
Mrs. Tiezzi

School News 
On Thursday September 21st (International Day of Peace) St. Rita School will host a  Dress Down Day  to help the victims of the Hurricanes. Students will be asked to donate a minimum of $1 to participate in the this dress down day. The theme of this day will be to wear RED , WHITE & BLUE clothing.
Stop & Shop A+ Rewards:
Beginning October ­­6, 2017, St. Rita School has the opportunity to participate in and earn cash from A+ School Rewards, a great fundraising program run through your local Stop & Shop! Please fill out the A+ Rewards form, and your card will be assigned to St. Rita School. Please be sure to share this with your family and friends!


E-Rate is a federal program that provides funding assistance to schools and libraries for telecommunications, Internet access, infrastructure, and maintenance/support. The program is formally titled "The Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund" and is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

We ask that ALL St. Rita School families complete this survey. Please take 5 minutes to complete this survey as are eligible for funding based on the feedback of ALL our families.

Please note this information will remain confidential and will be reported only as a total group, not by individual families. Surveys remain on the school property. Names of individual families will not be used.





Unity T-Shirt Day is tomorrow 9/20
Please remember to wear your Unity T-Shirt along with your school uniform





ALL PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOKS FORMS WERE DUE FRIDAY 9/15.
Please download the Handbook if you have not done so already




ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST TAKE THE VIRTUS TRAINING
UPCOMING VIRTUS TRAINING:

Sept. 20- St. Theresa, North Haven - at 6pm
Sept. 21- St. Mary, Branford- at 6pm
Click here to register
If a parent has previously taken this training for another Catholic school, it will remain valid for SRS. Please bring your certificate to the office.


NEW TO SRS! CODING CLUB

Code Club Jr. is a new afterschool club for students in Kindergarten through third grade. Introducing coding to students at a young age builds confidence for future success and fosters creative and critical thinking skills.



NEW CRUSADER CLUB
The SRS Crusader Club is designed to help promote and welcome visitors to St. Rita School. Students chosen for The Crusader Club will be trained in becoming Student Ambassadors for varies events throughout the school year, including Open Houses, Welcome Days, Shadow Days and outside school events. This club is open to students in grades 6-8.
*Open to all students- no experience needed*
Applications due Sept. 29th



SAVE THE DATE

St. Rita School
High School Night
Grades 6-8
Wed. Oct. 4th 2017
6:30pm
Home and School Association
St. Rita Annual Walk-A-Thon
The Home and School Association welcomes all of our students and families to the 2017-18 school year! The HSA is kicking off our school-wide events with our annual Walk-A-Thon on Sunday, September 24, 2017. The walk will start between 12:45 and 1pm from the SRS parking lot. Please save the date and join the school community as we celebrate wearing our Unity T-Shirts!

Please look for our Save the Date flyer and Walk-A-Thon Pledge Form linked here.

Clothing Drive at the Walk-A-Thon
We are again holding a clothing drive sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Connecticut Foundation during the Walk-A-Thon.
Unity T-Shirts at the Walk-A-Thon

Wear your Unity T-Shirt to the Walk-A-Thon on Sunday, September 24th! Let's show our school pride and demonstrate our Unity by wearing our Unity T-shirts while we walk together through our Spring Glen neighborhood and then return to St. Rita School for a fun picnic!
WALK-A-THON VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Visit our website to learn more and Click here to SIGN UP.

Walk-A-Thon Personal Dress Down Day Winners

The third week's winners of a Walk-A-Thon Personal Dress Down Day are: Anabel Kuo, Joseph Faiella, Leah Carrano, Brielle Barresi, Kaitlyn Ponzio, Giulia Harms, Conall Burns, Giovanna Faiella, and Kristina Ponzio. Congratulations!

Final Week of Walk-A-Thon Pledge Drive

This is the final week to bring in your Walk-A-Thon donations. We have raised $3,800 of our $26,000 goal. Please help us reach our goal! Don't forget, the top fundraiser from Pre-K to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade, and 6th to 8th grade will win a Kindle Fire Kid's Edition. Also, The second place class will win an Ice Cream Party and first place class will win a visit from the Beardsley Zoo Zoomobile! 

Thank you to our Walk-A-Thon Sponsors!!

Thank you to the St. Rita Council of the Knights of Columbus for sponsoring and grilling the hot dogs at our upcoming Walk-A-Thon picnic. Thank you also to the Ponzio Family for sponsoring the airbrush tattoo artist, who will be at the picnic to create fun designs for the kids! And thank you to the sponsors of the 3 Kindle Fire Kid's Edition prizes: Lamboley Law Firm, Raymond Wealth Management, and the Burns Family. We greatly appreciate your support!

Don't forget, the top fundraiser from Pre-K to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade, and 6th to 8th grade will win a Kindle Fire HD Kid's Edition! 

Walk-A-Thon Food Donations

The Walk-A-Thon Committee needs your help to make the day a fun-filled one! We are reaching out to the school community for food donations. Please see our Food Donation flyer and bring in your donation during the week of September 18th. Any questions, please email  hsasrs.stritaschool@gmail.com. Thank you and we look forward to seeing everyone on September 24th! 


West Point Football Experience Sponsored by St. Rita Council of the Knights of Columbus

New Haven Symphony Orchestra
The NHSO invites you to join them for FREE on Opening Night!: Beethoven’s Triple.
  Thursday, September 28 th  from 7:30 – 8:30PM at Woolsey Hall.


VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
We need your help!
Volunteers wanted!
There are various committees and volunteer opportunities to choose from.
To learn more visit our website

Athlete's Corner
SOCCER REMINDERS:
All Soccer forms are due by Friday, 9/22!! 

St. Rita Soccer Challenge
   sponsored by the Knights of Columbus
   Saturday, Sept 30th starting at
 9:30am - 1pm at Moretti Field
 
   Open to all St. Rita's
students ages 9 -14. Bring your cleats and a soccer ball to shoot for the goal and earn a chance to advance to the State     
   Championship. Awards will be given out in all Boys and Girls Category Levels. Winners will advance to Regional and State Championship.

   Volunteers for the event are also needed. If interested in helping out or questions about the event, please contact Wayne Bruno   



Caritas Christi Center
KIDS NIGHT OUT Friday Sept. 22 HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Next Kids Night Out
Friday Oct. 6th
6pm
To view other Caritas Christi Center events visit their website .

St. Rita School Early Learning Center

Employment Opportunity at the
St. Rita School Early Learning Center

Check out their NEW


UPCOMING DATES - 
September 24- SRS Walk-a-thon
September 25- No School, Teacher Professional Development 
October 4- No School Teacher Professional Development 
October 4- HIGH SCHOOL NIGHT Grades 6-8
October 6- 12:15 Dismissal
October 9- NO SCHOOL
October 17 & 18 - Lifetouch School Pictures
October 19- Evening Conferences, 12:15pm Dismissal
October 20- Afternoon Conference, 12:15pm Dismissal, UNITY T-Shirt Day
October 27- TRUNK or TREAT, MIddle School Dance
November 1- School Mass
November 4- Regional Band Concert
November 6-9 - Book Fair
November 9- 12:15 Dismissal
November 10- No School
St. Rita School
1601 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06517
Phone: (203) 248.3114
Fax: (203) 248.1016