Dear St. Rose School Families:
Freedom is a precious gift and we are grateful to the valiant men and women who make it possible for us to enjoy in America. Today the Knights of Columbus hosted a Veteran's Day Assembly to honor all of those who have served and continue to serve our country, in particular our 14 special guests, many of whom are related to students at St. Rose School. It was moving to watch the veterans process to the front of the hall among a sea of St. Rose students waving American flags as they passed. Together we saluted the American flag and sang the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America. We were touched by the stories we heard and enlightened during the interesting Q & A sessions that followed in smaller groups.
The Knights also presented awards to the top three winners of the Upper Grade Poster and Essay contests. Congratulations to Kyle Getzinger (1st place essay), who read her essay at the assembly, Margaret Brown (2nd place essay) and Isabella Corona (3rd place essay); Sylvia Pinheiro (1st place poster); Luke Christos (2nd place poster) and Evie Komninakas (3rd place poster). These students captured the heart of Veteran's Day and remind us to always be grateful for our freedom and to those who make it possible. My sincere thanks to the Knights of Columbus for the service they provide to our parish and school community and for bringing us this most memorable experience today.
Thanks to those who attended the HSA meeting and State of the School address last night. We are encouraged by the many accomplishments that have been made since the start of the school year and all of the initiatives that are underway. If you were unable to join us an email with the presentation will be sent out shortly.
We have a vibrant school community that is growing stronger as we work together to achieve our shared goal -- helping every student thrive! On this note, I trust you have scheduled conferences with your child's teachers next Monday through Wednesday. It is our hope that these meetings will be productive for all.
The Enchanted Forest Book Fair is beginning this Saturday, November 10th, with a special movie night sponsored by the HSA. Please come for this fun school activity and get a first look at the many wonderful books at the store. On Sunday the Fair is Open to the public 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 PM so please tell all your friends and neighbors! The Fair will continue Monday through Friday during school hours, giving you plenty of time to shop. I am very grateful to Mrs. Setear and her committee for the countless hours they have put in to bringing us a fantastic Book Fair.
As we travel through the month of November, we are focused on serving others and being thankful. Our Thanksgiving Food Drive has been extended to Monday morning. We appreciate all of your contributions and welcome additional donations through Monday. Sister Thaddeus and the 7th grade class will collect all of the bins in the gathering hall and then load them on to the Social Concerns truck for delivery to the Faith Food Pantry Monday morning. Many lives will be touched by your generosity.
I hope you have marked your calendars for the annual Turkey Bowl on Tuesday, November 20th which will take place on the field at 1:00 PM. All families and alumni are welcome to join us for this fun filled afternoon when our two 8th grade classes face each other in a friendly game of flag football.
Congratulations to our Boys Varsity team who have advanced to the semi-finals in the Harvest Tournament. You can find information about the game times this weekend in
Athletic News below. Please support our Rams if you can.
The Be Kind mural was installed this week and it looks beautiful! Thanks to the parents, students, alumni and Ben's Bells for making this happen. What a thoughtful gift from the Class of 2018 that will warm our halls and hearts for many years to come.
I am counting many blessings as another dynamic week of school comes to a close. I hope you know how thankful I am to be a part of the St. Rose School community.
God Bless.
Mr. Bardhyl Gjoka
Principal
