Merry Christmas, Little Flower Family!

Greetings from 1000 West, as we are well into our preparations for the holiday season. 

As we move through the Season of Advent and waiting for our Saviour’s arrival, we are abundantly blessed to live in the house of St. Thérèse, built on the spirit of love, generosity and gentle strength. The power of the Thérèsian spirit permeates the halls as our student body collectively works to pay it forward through Christmas messages to our benefactors and participation in Operation Santa efforts, coordinated through our Theology Department and Community Service Corps (CSC).  The spirit of giving is alive and well at Little Flower!

In addition to time and tangibles, gifts of talent were abundant in our wonderfully successful production of The Addams Family Musical. Our dedicated students and parent volunteers tirelessly worked to make the show the tremendous success it was. Led by rising star director and proud Little Flower Alumna, Alexis Tschantz ‘08, and LFCHS Theater Guild Alumni, Joey McCarthy (10 year LFCHS Theater Production veteran), who stepped into produce, this dynamic duo faced the difficult task of replacing long time Theater Director, Mike Rayer. Undaunted, they stepped up and forged ahead, and the result was, as they say in the business, a SMASH! Of course, when you’re an Addams, its family FIRST and we’re happy to report that the LFCHS Theater Family legacy is ALIVE and WELL. Thanks also to Ralph Purri for outstanding musical direction and Kate Zolk for the choreography. We are also so grateful for our Alumnae, Cast Alumni, Board members and other LFCHS stakeholders who shared in the Addams Family fun. Congratulations again to our dedicated thesps for an outstanding effort!

As if it could not get any better, the Music Department set the stage for the holiday spirit with their beautiful performances. Abundant gratitude goes to Jessica O’Neill and Ralph Purri, who filled our halls with the sounds of the Christmas season and for the students who worked so diligently to contribute their talents and energies toward the effort.

Winter sports are underway and you can catch Little Flower athletes on the hardwood, in the pool, on the track or at the alley. Click here for the Winter Sports Schedule.

A very exciting update from the President’s Office is the announcement that our Little Flower Ambassadors are going to be formally installed in front of the student body and parents on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at our Catholic Schools’ Week Liturgy (starting at approximately 8:20a.m.) The Ambassadors, led by Senior, Maggie Volz and Junior, Maddie Gillespie, are taking on the charge of making the group more accessible and reaching out to a wider audience via social media to spread the good word about the difference a Little Flower education makes in the lives of students. An invitation to all students to apply for the Ambassadors’ program at midyear will happen shortly after we return from the winter holiday.

Follow us on Instagram at #LF23underthetree  for a Santa surprise! The deadline for the discounted registration fee of $100 to hold a student’s spot has been extended to January 11, 2019 . Additionally, the deadline to be included in the registration for a lottery drawing for additional tuition assistance of up to $1000/year ($4,000 over the life of the student’s career) has also been extended to January 11, 2019. Applications are over two times what they were last year, so the competition is fierce for a spot in the Class of 2023. Please encourage your friends and family to apply and schedule shadowing so that they can really experience what we all know to be the Little Flower spirit! All students who applied for both admission and for Financial Aid will have a decision by January 23, 2019.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Faculty, Staff and Students, please accept our blessings for a wonderful Christmas holiday, fill with renewal and wonderment. 

In gratitude and with blessings for a wonderful Christmas and break -

Jeane M. McNamara

President

To The Class of 2023:

Greetings from the North Pole!

I have been watching all the students who applied and showed interest in coming to Little Flower as freshmen for the Fall of 2019 and it would seem as if you have all been very good this year! Mrs. McNamara, the President of Little Flower, is a good friend of mine. She has asked me to make sure you have a little something special under your tree this year to make sure that you know how much Little Flower wants you to be a part of the rich legacy and tradition and storied reputation for academic excellence that Little Flower is proud to share.

Continue to be good, to do good works, to give back and pay it forward, and to be looking for a special delivery from me, compliments of Little Flower to go under your tree! 

With blessings to you and your family for a very wonderful Christmas season – Santa Claus

#LF23underthetree

INAUGURAL WORKPLACE READINESS CONFERENCE FOR THE CLASS OF 2019: 

SAVE THE DATE:  Monday, February 25, 2019 at Citizens’ Bank Park. 

Arrive at School and board buses for CBP. Citizens Bank Park is made available through the generosity of alumna, Ms. Kathy Killian ’81, Vice President for Human Relations for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Our Inaugural Conference Theme:  NOURISH. FLOURISH. THRIVE. Empowered Little Flower Alumnae and other friends and supporters of Little Flower will share their experiences with the Class of 2019. Topics like:  etiquette for the business environment, social media’s role in business, dressing for success, interviewing techniques, resume writing and a facilitated career panel, providing our students with a broad exposure to a wide range of vocational options will be provided.  We are looking for representatives in the following fields to contribute their experiences:

~Nursing

~Pre-Medical

~Physical, Occupational or Speech Therapy

~Behavioral and/or Mental Health

Attention St. Joseph’s fans! Newly appointed Athletic Director, Ms. Jill Bodensteiner, has graciously agreed to deliver our welcoming remarks. ( #THWND ) We are so grateful to Jill for her commitment to women’s education.

Can you offer your time, talents or tangibles to assist in making this event a success? Please click on the following link to fill out our brief questionnaire so that we can assess our needs.

Conference Interest Survey.

Please respond no later than Friday, January 11, 2019. Thank you!  

LEAD FEARLESSLY



From the Guidance Office:

Reminders from the Guidance Office:

 Seniors please bring a copy of all acceptance letters, grants and scholarships to the Guidance Office. We will record them and begin to post the acceptances outside of our office.

Also please remember our office has many resources available to our students including , College Board Book of Scholarships, Book of Majors and an International Student Guide to College. Please feel free to come during lunch or free period to peruse these publications.

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Guidance Department!

Here are several college scholarship websites for your review: 

https://libwww.freelibrary.org/programs/collegeprep/financeeducation.cfm

https://www.philafound.org/Scholarships/AvailableScholarships.aspx 

https://jlvcollegecounseling.com/scholarships/

https://phillygoes2college.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Scholarships-for-High-Schools-final.pdf

http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/

Here are a few summer opportunities to check out:

1. Governor’s School:    The Governor’s School is an extraordinary opportunity for gifted and talented students.     The Pennsylvania Department of Education is pleased to announce that the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University is now accepting applications from talented high school juniors for the summer 2019 program. PGSS is an intensive, five-week summer residential program, which emphasizes cooperative learning and hands-on laboratory research, for 56 talented high school juniors pursuing careers in science and mathematics. Completed applications must be emailed per instructions on the website   http://sciences.pa-gov-schools.org   no later than January 31, 2019

2.)  Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week : PFEW combines rigorous instruction with hands on experiences, providing participants with knowledge and skills needed to compete in the 21st century workforce. The 2019 application is now available. For more information visit  www.PFEW.org

ACADEMIC OFFICE

Any student who has an opening in the second semester and wishes to fill it with a JVLA course should consult Mr Rosbach in the Academic Office. The deadline for 2nd semester courses is January 10. 2019.

Progress reports will be distributed during homeroom on Wednesday, December 19. Please sign and return to school with your daughter.

PowerSchool Mobile version 2.6.0 for iOS Now Available

A new version of PowerSchool Mobile for iOS (2.6.0) is now available in the Apple App Store for parents and students.

This release provides a new enhanced student schedule, and fixes to existing issues.

FINANCE OFFICE

TUITION REMINDER

Notices went out this week for any student whose tuition is 90 days or more delinquent. It is the official policy of the Office of Catholic Education that students who are more than 90 days delinquent in payment at the midyear point must be removed from the school rolls. If you have any questions about tuition payments or enrolling in FACTS payment, please contact Mrs. Celeste Foley, our Tuition Officer at cfoley@lfchs.org or x151.  

Know that we are committed to working with you. We want to fully partner with you to work through difficulties so that there are no interruptions to your daughter’s education.   

ADMISSIONS OFFICE

Shadowing for 8th graders continues! Tell everyone you know to come spend the day and see how special Little Flower is! Call Sister Ellen at 215-455-6900 extension 152 to schedule a day for an 8th grader you know will benefit from the experience.

PARENTS: PLEASE REMEMBER YOU MUST RE-APPLY

MAKING LITTLE FLOWER AFFORDABLE

The FACTS aid application has opened! All families who receive tuition assistance from Little Flower must apply to FACTS each year. You can login using your information from last year. The fee is $30 to apply, payable by credit/debit card. Any applications for tuition assistance made to FACTS by December 31, 2018 will receive tuition assistance award letters by January 23, 2019. FACTS link  https://online.factsmgt.com/aid

REBATE

Families with students in more than one school within the Philadelphia Archdiocesan High Schools, who have paid FACTS administrative fee at each school, are eligible for a rebate of the fee paid for the younger student(s) account. To claim this rebate, please complete and return this form to the Tuition Officer.

Lavishing in Fashion: 

“Flossie the Elf” has been entertaining the girls by hiding in a different place everyday. The girls are coming in the Flossie Shop looking for her. If they find her...they get a candy cane. “Flossie the Elf” will be hanging out the entire holiday season. See if you can find her!

STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICE

The Christmas Concert was held on Sunday, December 16. The student vocalists and instrumentalists entertained our audience with beautiful Christmas melodies. Everyone who attended left filled with the Christmas Spirit! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ATHLETIC OFFICE

Winter Sports are underway! The remaining December schedule is as follows:

LITTLE FLOWER ICE HOCKEY UPDATE:

The Little Flower-Snider Hockey partnership will formally launch in January 2019. There are two mandatory parent meetings set for all students interested in participating in the Little Flower/Snider Hockey program. Here are the details, noting the cost of the one way bus ride = $5/trip.



Tarken:

Fitting/Parents Meeting – Tuesday 1/8/19 5:30pm. Students will leave LFCHS at 2:45 for equipment fittings and meet parents for the meeting.

First practice – Tuesday 1/15/19

               Bus leaves LFCHS– 2:45pm

               Practice – 3:30p.m.-4:30p.m.

               Parent pick up – 4:45p.m.

 

Scanlon:

Fitting/Parents Meeting – Monday, 1/14/19 5:30pm. Students will leave LFCHS at 2:45 for equipment fittings and meet parents for the meeting.

First Practice – Monday 1/28/19 (NOTE: Scanlon is a week behind because of facilities renovations.

               Bus leaves LFCHS – 2:45pm

               Practice – 3:30-4:30p.m.

               Parent pick up – 4:45p.m.



NOTE: Students must complete the attached form AND provide a copy of their most recent report card to be eligible to participate.  Download form here!

Where in the World Will You Go?

Mikki Ryan McIntyre, '97, and her new travel agency, Cruise Planners have donated a $4,000 gift certificate to travel by air, land or sea anywhere in the world! Chances will be sold throughout the school year at school, by mail, online and at our many alumnae events.

$15 per chance

$25 for two chances

Online payment will be available soon.

Drawing will be at SummerFest July 6, 2019 at Keenan's North Wildwood as part of our

80th Anniversary Celebration!

See flyer for details

Love Faithfully

Unbelievable opportunity to support LF students with your Pennsylvania taxes. Do you pay $5,000 or more in Pennsylvania taxes? Do you know someone who does? Would you rather send hard-earned tax money to Harrisburg or straight through these doors?

Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) allow individuals and businesses to direct your PA tax money to scholarships for Little Flower students. If you or someone you know has a PA tax liability of $5,000 or more, you are missing an opportunity to get back $.90 for every $1.00 donated.

Find out how you or someone you know can redirect hard-earned tax dollars to Little Flower!

Contact Amy Steinmetz Carthy '87