For the  parents and families of St. Therese Chinese Catholic School


Dear Parents,

What are you thankful for? This is a simple question but it is really something to think about. At first we may list the material things that surround us, but after a moment's pause, you realize that none of that is what really brings us true joy. Family, friendship, and the presence of God in our life is what really gives us true gratitude.

This month we examine thankfulness and peace with our children. These themes are reflected in the children's artwork and class discussions. The children in the older grades are asked to become more reflective as they challenge themselves to become more open to Christ's calling as we ready ourselves for Advent and the beginning of our liturgical year.

Sadly, safety concerns continue to plague our city and our surroundings. After several discussions with the School Board and the School and Family Association, it has been decided to review some proposals to move the entry point of the school to our gates. In order to do this, some electrical work and and new gate doors will be needed in addition to the technology for the key pad and installation. We feel strongly that this should be our end-of-the-year fundraising focus.

After school activities are fully underway! Art, Dragon Dance, athletics, robotics, dance....the list goes on. I hope students are exploring their interests!

Blessings,
Ms. Cavallone
Principal

PS - Be sure to check out our School Blog. We have been posting and sharing a wide range of articles that we think will be of great interest to parents!
Parent -Teacher Conferences
Thursday, November 30, 2017

First trimester Parent-Teacher Conferences will be on Thursday, November 30th. Parents must make their Parent-Teacher conference appointments using the Virtual Paragon Reservation System.  The reservation system will open on Wednesday, November 15th at 7am and close at noon on Thursday, November 23rd.

Conference appointment times will be available on Thursday, November 30th between 12:15 - 5:05pm.   P arents are required to pick up their child's report card on this day. 

Please make reservations for your child's homeroom teacher only - if you wish to visit with teachers in addition to your child's homeroom teacher, you may visit with those teachers on a walk-in basis on November 30th between 5:15 - 6:20pm. 

Please click on the link below to reach the reservation system and register for a conference:

Once you have reached the website, the web page will look like the diagram on the right. You will be asked for St. Therese's Master Password. 

Click into the white box and type the words:

Blue Ribbon

Note: The B and R must be capitalized and there is a space between Blue and Ribbon.
 

  • The premier online system for scheduling parent/teacher conferences.
  • Empowers parents to make reservations that are most convenient for them.
    • Make or review reservations from the comfort of your home!
 

Remember, the on-line registration system is the only way to make an appointment.

Report cards will be given only to parents who attend a conference on November 30th.

ALL STUDENTS WILL BE DISMISSED AT 11:30am ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30th.
PLEASE BE ON TIME WHEN PICKING UP YOUR STUDENTS.

The Virtual Paragon system is very user-friendly.  If, however, you feel the need for more detailed instructions, you can access a full User's Guide after you login.

If you encounter any problems or have any questions, please email the school for support at  [email protected] .
How to Support Your Child Living a Balanced Life

Wednesday, November 15th 
5:30pm - 6:30pm

Join us for an informative discussion with noted professor  Dr. Meg Carroll on a very important topic to today's families. According to Dr. Carroll, " One of your most important goals as a parent is to raise children who become independent and self-reliant people. We will consider what actions and reactions from parents help children gain independence."

Those who have seen Dr. Carroll speak know she offers great wisdom that parents tell us is very helpful at home.
Reminder
Our all school Thanksgiving Mass will be on Wednesday, November 22nd at 8am. Students will be dismissed for Thanksgiving break at the usual time on Wednesday, and classes will resume on Monday, November 27th. 

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Join the Dragon Dance Team!

Students in 6th and 7th grades are invited to join the St. Therese Dragon Dance Team! The Dragon Dance Team is an ambassador of the school and has the opportunity to perform for classmates, families and the community at numerous events throughout the year.

 

Practice will be Fridays at 2:45 pm - 3:30 pm in the school basement. More information and a sign-up sheet can be found here.

 
Unpacking the Aspire, ACT & SAT - Understanding College and Career Readiness


Tuesday, November 28th - 5:30- 6:30pm

Dr. Dan Foertsch and Ms. Cavallone will present an informative workshop on STCCS Aspire results, how to read/interpret the Interim scores and what to expect with the ACT and SAT. The discussion will include important new information about standardized tests and what it means for our student's college and career readiness.
St. Therese to Host Self Defense Class 
for Students and Parents

St. Therese will be holding two Self-Defense Classes for our school community. This class has been designed just for St. Therese and will allow participants to learn the basics in self-defense that will help you protect yourself in today's world.

Students in  Grades 3 through 8 are invited to attend the session on  Wednesday, December 6th at 5:45pm.

Young Adults (14-18) and Adults (18+) are invited to attend the session on  Wednesday, December 13th at 5:45pm . 

Both sessions will be held in the school basement. Each class costs $20/person.  More details about the class as well as a waiver form can be found here.

The Big Drawing is just over a month away! Don't get left out of the excitement - the more tickets you buy the greater the chance you have for winning! And don't forget that the seller of the winning ticket will also win $1,000! Tickets may be purchased online or at the school office.

Flag Football Season Wraps Up

The Red Varsity Flag Football Team had an outstanding season. They finished the season in 3rd place in the league with a record of 6-1! The team was undefeated throughout the regular season and lost in a very tough semi-final game to St. Catherine-St. Lucy. This team practiced hard since the beginning of the summer and should be proud of their great season.

The White Varsity Flag Football Team also had a successful season. Due to the large number of flag football participants STCCS had this year, we fielded two teams on the varsity level. Although the White Team was put together right before the season started, they had a successful season, with the high point being a victory over St. Agnes of Bohemia, a team that eventually finished 4th in the league.

With all of the returning 7th graders next year, the future looks very promising for the St. Therese Varsity Flag Football team. 

The Junior Varsity Flag Football Team had a tremendous season with a 2nd place finish in their league. The team was able to make it to the championship game against St. Agnes of Bohemia. The game was heart-breaking in the sense that St. Therese had the lead throughout the majority of the game, but fell short in the final minute. The team steadily improved throughout the season and all players show great promise for the future. 

We also recently wrapped up the Junior Level Flag Football season as well. The team competed hard, learned the basics of football, and unofficially won two games (despite the league not keeping records). 

Overall, thanks go to all of the coaches, parents and fans, who made the 2017 Flag Football Season a huge success!
Halloween Celebrations Enjoyed by All!

From crafts and muffins in the Early Childhood classrooms to spooky movies and "big kid" snacks in the older grades, all students enjoyed the chance to celebrate Halloween with their classmates. Check out the School Photo Gallery for some cute photos of the students and staff enjoying the special celebrations. 

New Catholic School Scholarship Opportunity for the 
2018-2019 School Year

Through the "Invest in Kids Act," the state of Illinois has created a new way to fund scholarships for children from low-income households who want to attend private schools. The tax credit scholarships offered through this program could cover  up to 100 percent of tuition and fees for eligible, low-income students. 

Not all families will be eligible for the new scholarships, but we want to make sure all Catholic school families are aware of the program. Program details are still being finalized, but you can find information on the scholarships, the application process and review the "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) on the Archdiocese of Chicago's website,  archchicago.org/tcs. 

More information about this scholarship opportunity will be coming from the Archdiocese in early December. Please stay tuned.
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