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 St. Rita Parents,

Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, we begin the Liturgical season on Lent. As we all know, Lent was the time that Jesus retreated into the desert for forty days to prepare for His ministry. It was for Him a time of reflection and contemplation.

For us, Lent is time to find occasions when we create a little emptiness and silence around us, rediscover the road to our heart, remove ourselves from the noise of external distractions, enter into contact with the deepest source of our being and faith.

Throughout these forty days of Lent, our faculty and students will focus on prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Our goal is to get our students to think beyond themselves and to focus on kindness and mercy.

In Pope Francis’ words here are a few things we can fast from and things we can feast on during this Lenten season:
·        Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
·        Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
·       Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
·        Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
·        Fast from worries and trust in god.
·        Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
·        Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
·        Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.
·        Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
·        Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
·        Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.

Now that’s a pretty full menu! Thank you for entrusting your children to our care. Have a great week.

God Bless,
Mrs. Tiezzi


School News 
From the Nurse's Office:
Connecticut requires physicals for entry into 7th grade as well as a tetanus booster and a meningitis vaccine. These physicals must be dated after May 1, 2018. Notices will be coming home today for those 6th grade students who do not have an up to date physical in my office. If your child has had a physical after May 1, 2018 please send in the paper work to school. If your child has not had their 7th grade physical yet please schedule an appointment. If you are planning on having this physical done over the summer please contact me so that I can document that. All physicals must be in my office before the start of school in August. 
Thank you 
Lisa Palma, RN
Saint Rita School Nurse 
SRS Summer Camp!
Scholarships Available
Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Schools (FACS) is offering four different scholarships now available to St. Rita School. 
By way of background, FACS was founded in 1983 and its mission is to support and assist the parish schools and the Archdiocesan High Schools by providing funding for scholarships and special projects. The Foundation believes that Catholic schools provide an “education for a lifetime”, especially for the poor and underserved children and youth of the Archdiocese of Hartford. FACS’s scholarships are made possible by many generous donors who, like us, believe that our schools provide students with an outstanding, values-based education.
Scholarships include:
Archbishop's Scholarship
Dynia Scholarship
Patrick Latina Scholarship
Most Reverend Henry J. Mansell Scholarship

Please submit completed application to Mrs. Tiezzi by MARCH 12th.

Sacred Heart Academy News:

Experience  Excelsior— Saturdays @ SHA  offers girls in grades 5 to 8 an opportunity to experience the serious fun of learning without the extraneous pressure of formal grades, putting them in contact with ways of thinking, seeing, and doing that challenge them to reflect deeply and think critically. The program is filled with workshops and activities that promise to inform, engage, and entertain participating students while they make new friends.

Two sessions have been planned—Saturday, March 23, and Saturday, March 30, from 9:00 am to 11:30 am on the Sacred Heart campus, 265 Benham Street, Hamden. The program will be led by experienced faculty with the assistance of current students. Middle school girls are welcome to attend either one or both sessions.

  • NEW DATE** March 23– Creative Arts Saturday: Reflecting the wide range of Sacred Heart’s humanities-based curriculum and inspired by trailblazers in theatre, ancient history, and art, students will have fun experiencing the satisfying challenges of World Language, Social Studies, and Visual and Performing Arts, culminating in a short performance. 


  • March 30 – STEM Saturday: Participants will use Math, Science, and programming skills to find clues that lead them to learn about trailblazing women who forged new paths, not only in STEM fields, but in business, entertainment, and everyday life. Structured as an Escape Room, students will solve math puzzles, perform science experiments and write programs, using their knowledge and logic to break free.
 
Snacks will be provided and each participant will receive a t-shirt.
Reserve your place today for this  FREE  program Click To Register
MERCY HIGH SCHOOL
“Discover Mercy” is a morning program offered for fifth, sixth and seventh grade girls and their parents to get their first look at Mercy by enjoying activities, student performances and informal conversations with Mercy students, parents, alumnae, administrators and faculty. The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 
During "Discover Mercy," girls have the opportunity to spend time in the classrooms with faculty and students while attending “classes” such as Beginners Yoga, Creative Writing, Cheerleading Clinic, Mad about Math, and Theater Arts Workshop to name a few options. All of the choices are listed on the registration page. Here is the link:  Discover Mercy . Meanwhile, parents may attend an informal question and answer session and participate in programs designed especially for them.
Following the morning program, everyone is invited to lunch in the cafeteria and experience a performance by the Mercy Dance Team and the Mercy/Xavier "Vocal Dimension" Show Choir! Mercy Student Ambassadors are available to lead tours of the school at any time during the morning, including a stop at the school store.

Super Charge Your SUMMER
Mercy High School Summer Camp Program
Open to all 6th-9th Graders
More information here

Join us for our 2nd Annual
Multi- Cultural Night!
NEW DATE:
Thursday March 28, 2019
5:30-7:00pm

All school families welcome!
Interested in sharing your culture
with our school?
Register here

All families sharing their culture will be asked to decorate a table (table supplied) to represent their culture. Food, artifacts, pictures, etc are all welcome!
Questions: Contact Carissa Civitello

Celebrate Our Cultures
Please note the changes to our cultural board.

March: Europe
Please begin to bring in your items to share this month.
Please label items with name and
attention to: Carissa Civitello
Interested in learning more about our Kindergarten program? Come paint with us!
Monday
March 25, 2019
Register here
Open to all prospective Kindergarten families
Our Scrip Gift Card Fundraising is still available all year long!

Remember to visit the Scrip Store for all of your gift card needs.
Every gift card purchase supports our school.
Crusaders Corner Store
Spirit Wear is available for purchase!
Stop by our Advancement Office to shop.
Crusaders Corner will be open every Thursday during all lunch periods. Please send your child with cash or check to purchase items!

We are still seeking volunteers to help run the store. If you are interested please contact Mrs. Civitello.
Home and School Association
The Kansas Maid Braided Pastry & Otis Spunkmeyer cookie fundraiser will kick-off on February 25 th  and run through March 18 th . All items must be picked up from school on Monday, April 1 st  from
3:00 – 5:30 p.m.  
SAVE THE DATE
Save the date for our Annual Father Daughter Dance!
Friday, April 5th 2019
6:00-8:00pm
Dessert & Dancing

Invitations coming soon!
Thank you to all who attended the planning meeting.

If you are interested in volunteering for this event please email
SAVE THE DATE
ST. RITA SCHOOL
C O L O R R U N

SATURDAY, MAY 18TH
HAMDEN TOWN GREEN


WHAT IS A
 COLOR RUN ?

A Color Run is a non-competitive 1-2 mile course filled with color, that you can experience with friends and family. It's a healthy and happy experience for adults and children to celebrate and support
St. Rita School along with the community.

You’re free to run, jog, walk, or cartwheel along the course!

REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND MORE DETAILS COMING SOON . ..

See you at the finish line!

got Sole?
Our first 10 bags of sneakers are on their way! 
Thank you SRS families. Keep those sneakers coming. 
Our sneaker drive continues until May 19th ...

The 3rd Annual $10,000 Tuition Raffle
New Dates this year!
St. Rita School will be selling raffle tickets for its annual tuition raffle. Each family is asked to sell or buy 2 tickets. Tickets are $50 each with only 800 tickets to be sold; so buy your tickets early. Prize money can be used to pay for tuition at any accredited K-12 school, college or university, or to pay back students loans. The winner does not have to personally use the money; they can designate any student they wish to use the money (for example, a grandparent can use the money to pay a grandchild’s tuition). The drawing will be held on April 27, 2019, at St. Rita School during the evening performance of Peter Pan Jr.; winner need not be present to win.
Extra tickets are available by calling the school at 203-248-3114 or emailing trisha.kozloski@yahoo.com.
 Proceeds from the raffle will support St. Rita School’s operating budget. 

This year we will be seeking volunteers to help with the Tuition Raffle. If you are interested in volunteering please email
Calling for volunteers! We’ve got some shoes to fill.
NEW LINK TO SIGN UP!!!!
 
The St. Rita School HSA would love to have you as a Parent Volunteer this year! There are various events and activities planned for this year that cannot happen without your support.

Your time and talents are needed for the continued success of our school. Even just one hour of volunteer time makes a great difference to the school community.
 
Please access the link below to view the events scheduled this year and sign up for any of the volunteer positions that are open.
 
Thank you for your continued support of our school!
  
HSA Executive Board
 
 
Athlete's Corner
Check back here for all Athletic News
Winter Sports Information
Congratulations to our Girls Varsity and JV team for winning
the Greater New Haven Parochial League for their division!
Go Crusaders!!  
 
Congratulations to our Boys JV-5 th  team for a
2 nd  place finish in the deanery Championship game!
The STATE tournament will begin on Saturday, March 9 th .  
Girls Varsity, Girls JV, Boys JV6 and JV5 will be competing for the STATE championship title.  
 
St Mary of Milford Basketball Tournament continues

Brackets are listed at
 
Spring Sport Information:
 
Grades 6-8 Baseball and Softball Registration Now Available!
Please return forms back by  Monday, March 11th


PICTURES WANTED! If you love taking pictures at our SRS sporting events, please share them with us! Please send to ccivitello.stritaschool@gmail.com
Student Spotlight
Congratulations to  Lorelai Natale for being crowned
Junior Miss On Stage America!
Congratulations to SRS Alumna Juliana Mascia for having the honor of singing at the United Nations
Women for Peace Luncheon.
Did your child/ren do something amazing? Share with us!
Please send submissions to
Please be patient as we receive many wonderful stories of our SRS students and Alumni!
Prayer Corner
Please keep the following SRS community
members in your thoughts and prayers


Joseph Lee

If you have a special intention that you would like to share in our prayer corner, please email Carissa Civitello
Support SRS
Thank you to everyone who has clipped and collected Box Tops so far! Even though the last "official" submission is complete,
PLEASE continue to collect as we can send them in YEAR ROUND! We are currently at $502.70, lets try to double that by the start of the next school year!!

Visit  amazonsmile.com , and anytime you purchase an eligible item, Amazon will donate a portion of the profit to our school! Select “Divine Mercy Parish
Corporation” as your charity, and St. Rita School will benefit every time you shop.

We're excited to announce another bonus donation opportunity for Divine Mercy Parish Corporation. Through January 31, 2019, AmazonSmile will donate 15% the purchase price of new print magazine subscriptions. Click  here for details

Use the message and image below in email, social media, and on your website to spread the word to your donors, staff, and volunteers.

Through January 31, 2019, AmazonSmile will donate 15% the purchase price of new print magazine subscriptions. Visit  https://smile.amazon.com/b?node=18541223011  for details.

Link your Stop & Shop Card to St. Rita School, and we’ll earn CASH when you buy groceries! Click  here  and use School ID: 06434.
Link your ShopRite Price Plus card to St. Rita School, and help us earn school supplies! Click  here  and use School ID: 50073, or send your PricePlus card number to Alice Kuether,  alicemcgrew23@hotmail.com .
Rewards Program

Click HERE for a flyer with all of our rewards programs.

Does Your Company Offer Volunteer Grants? 
Volunteer grant programs, also known as “Dollars for Doers” programs, are corporate giving programs created to encourage volunteerism in communities where employees live and work.
Through these programs, companies provide monetary grants to organizations where employees volunteer regularly. 

Please take a moment and ask if your employer participates in a Volunteer Grants Program. Your time and talent at St. Rita School could turn into dollars for our school! Questions? Feel free to contact Joanne Bruno at  jbruno.stritaschool@gmail.com .
Caritas Christi Center
UPCOMING DATES - 
March 6- Ash Wednesday Mass 9am
March 14- 12:15 Dismissal , Conferences
March 15- 12:15 Dismissal, Conferences
March 18- No School, Catholic Educator Conference
March 25- Kindergarten Informational Night
March 28- Multi-Cultural Night
April 5- 1st Friday Mass, Father/Daughter Dance 6pm
April 14- Palm Sunday
April 15-19 Spring Break
April 21- Easter
April 25-27 Peter Pan Musical

St. Rita School
1601 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06517
Phone: (203) 248.3114
Fax: (203) 248.1016
www.stritaschool.org