I miss the bustle of our hallways and classrooms as well as the interactions of students, parents and faculty. As I observe the level of dedication exhibited by everyone in our school community, and realize all that we have learned and accomplished during our time apart, I am encouraged that our bond has only grown stronger.
Dear St. Rose School Families,
The highlight of my week was attending the Virtual Weather Lesson with NBC Meteorologist Bob Maxon. It was so good to see the smiling faces of our 3rd, 6th and 8th graders and take part in such an engaging presentation. I was especially proud of our students who asked brilliant questions and represented St. Rose School remarkably. Congratulations to Mrs. Zmek for reaching out to NBC; thanks to both she and Mrs. Petrillo for organizing the lesson and preparing the students. Going above and beyond to enhance learning is what sets St. Rose School apart.
The teachers and I are so grateful to the HSA and all parents for the kind outreaches during Teacher Appreciation Week. We are also appreciate the generous gift certificates to Bagel Delight, a favorite spot to all of us at St. Rose School. It is a joy for us to teach your children and share in this school community with you.
The calendar pages are turning quickly. The only day off between now and the last day of school (June 10) is Memorial Day, Monday May 25th. We will utilize these final days to ensure that our students finish strong. Progress reports will be sent out early next week. If you see an "M" this means there is a missing assignment. Please encourage your child to turn any missing work into their teachers promptly. As always, if you have questions or concerns please email teachers directly. We appreciate your partnership.
While times are different, we will still celebrate our Preschool, Kindergarten and 8th grade graduations. Please refer to the calendar in this newsletter for dates; teachers will contact you with details soon.
This Sunday, May 17th we are hosting a Virtual Meet & Greet for Preschool-2nd grade. Please help us spread the word by sharing the attached flyer with your family and friends. Word of mouth is powerful.
Click here for the flyer. Thank you!
Monday, May 18th marks Monsignor Bob's 47th anniversary as a priest. Please join me in wishing our beloved Pastor heartfelt congratulations. We ask God to bless him abundantly and give thanks for his love, support and leadership. He is a gift to us all.
Enjoy your weekend.
God Bless,
Mr. Bardhyl Gjoka
NBC CONNECTICUT'S METEOROLOGIST BOB MAXON GIVES WEATHER PRESENTATION PLUS
Q & A VIA ZOOM
What better way for 3rd graders to kick off their unit about Weather and 6th, 8th graders to culminate their study of Weather, than to have a lesson with Meteorologist Bob Maxon?
More than 60 students plus some faculty participated in this engaging presentation. Mr. Maxon answered student questions that ranged from "What classes did you have to take in order to become a Meteorologist?", What was the most intense weather event you have ever reported?" to "Why did it snow last Friday?" Students sat in front of backdrops ranging from an aerial view of the earth to the Northern Lights, tropical beaches and depictions of the solar system. Mr. Maxon was attentive to every question and encouraged students to listen, read and practice! practice! practice! as they build toward their futures.
Kudos to Mrs. Zmek and Mrs. Petrillo for organizing this awesome lesson and preparing the students who were attentive, respectful and insightful. At the end of the lesson, in a special tribute to all front line workers, every student displayed a heart as an expression of THANKS then called out "Thank you's" to Mr. Maxon who beamed, saying they made his day.
Here is a recording of the session
https://youtu.be/3pSslHfnQbs
ST. ROSE SCHOOL PHOTO GALLERY
There's a whole lot of learning going on at St. Rose School.
What grade do you teach/How long have you been at SRS?
This is my 6th year teaching 2nd grade at St Rose.
What is your favorite part of teaching this age group?
I love to watch how much they grow and change from the beginning of the year until now. They are so independent and learn a great deal in 2nd grade. Teaching the children about God and two Sacraments is very special. It brings me such joy to help them grow closer to God.
Tell us about your Family
In July, My husband John will be married 31 years. I have 4 beautiful daughters.The oldest is 29 and married. She lives in Stamford with her husband.
The 2nd is 26 and also married. She lives in Trumbull with her husband. She is also a teacher She teaches math at Ridgefield High School and her husband is a lawyer.
My 3rd daughter just turned 24 and is working for Abilities Beyond disabilities in Bethel.
My youngest daughter is 21 and just completed her Jr. year at UCONN. Go Huskies!
I have a dog named Riley who is 10. He is an aussiepoo which is an Australian Shepard poodle mix.
What is your favorite book?
We're Good: The Power of Faith, Hope & Determination by Meg McGovern.
This is the true story of my friend, the author's son,who was paralyzed one summer while diving into the water. He was a college athlete and swimmer. It is a beautiful story of how their faith in God helps them through some tough times.
What is your favorite movie?
You've Got Mail
What is your favorite color?
Blue
What is your favorite season?
Summer. I love being outside, going to the beach, and visiting my family in Long Island.
What is your favorite prayer?
The Our Father
Hobbies?
We love playing sports or watching sports as a family. We have season tickets to the UCONN women's basketball games with some friends. We enjoy all other sports as well. We are Mets, Islanders, Knicks and NY Giant fans as well.
I enjoy being outside, going for walks with our dog Riley, and working out.
What do you appreciate about being a part of the St. Rose School family?
It is truly a family and I have gotten to watch the children grow in their faith and love in God. Everyone is welcoming and helpful. The families support and provide all you need to be part of a loving family. As the children get older, I am able to maintain connections with them as well as their families. It's amazing how you still feel connected with them and they share their favorite memories with you as well.
What advice can you offer parents/students as we live through this pandemic?
Even when things seem to be hard and difficult, continue to pray everyday, go to mass, and read the scriptures. Try to do it with your families and know you are not alone even though we feel very much alone.We can look forward to knowing this is a small moment in our lives and one day we will look back and be able to talk about how we got through this with each other and our faith in God.
HSA NEWS
Dear Friends:
We hope you and your child(ren) had a good week.
It's hard to believe that we have only a month left of school - less than a month, really. We are in the process of planning our final (virtual) HSA meeting for the year. Please stay tuned for more information.
As we look toward next school year, we are in need of volunteers. First and foremost are the two open HSA Board positions, for Vice President and Secretary. Technically, the parent population would vote these individuals onto the Board at the last HSA meeting of the school year. Please consider serving in this capacity. We have a lot of fun on the Board and it's a great way to get involved with the school. Second, we are looking for someone to chair our Labor Day Parade - yes, we are boldly assuming that we'll have a Labor Day parade as usual! Again, this is a great opportunity to kick the year off with a celebration of our school, and we've been blessed with great chairs in the past. Thank you for considering taking on this role. In either case, or if anything else is on your mind, please let us know at hsa@srles.com. We'd love to hear from you!
It sounds like it is going to be a gorgeous weekend, weather-wise. We hope you and yours will have a chance to get out and enjoy the warmth and sunshine!
Your HSA Board
DATES TO NOTE
May 25th -- School closed, Memorial Day
June 4th -- Preschool graduation
June 5th -- Kindergarten graduation (moved
from June 3rd)
June 6th -- 8th grade graduation
June 9th -- New Family Virtual Meet & Greet
June 10th -- Last day of school
PLEASE NOTE: Vacation Bible School, Steubenville and Fan the Fire have been cancelled this Summer
BOOK CORNER
Extra! Extra! read all about it. St. Rose School parent Mrs. Getzinger has written three books (each under a different pen name inspired by her three children) that are now available on Amazon. If you are interested, here are the links:
