Dear Parents,
 
Report Card Conferences and Scantron Scores
 
Our first quarter report card conferences occur today and Monday. While the grades are important, the really important thing to remember is that these conferences give us an opportunity to celebrate successes and identify areas to improve for the rest of the year. Persistence, improvement and success are the goals, the grades will come in turn.
In addition to report cards, our 2nd through 8th grade students also received their Scantron scores for the Fall testing, and longitudinal information from previous tests. This is the standardized data that we use to inform our instruction. A couple of caveats and tips as you look at them.
 
At the top of the page is a listing of individual scores. The scaled score is essentially meaningless in this context but it is the score from which the others are derived. The SIP is an estimation of how may items out of 100 this student would typically get correct on a test of items at their grade level. Please recognize that this will improve over the course of the year. (Third grade students took the Third Grade test in the Fall, by the end of their Third Grade year, they will know more Third Grade level material and the SIP score should be close to 100.) The NPR is the National Percentile and is a rating compared to all other students taking the test at the same time (i.e. Fall of 3rd Grade).
At the bottom of the page, the solid line with the dots/circles is your child's longitudinal data. (For students who have been here a while, this can be VERY cluttered but we wanted to send home something more complete than we have in the past.) The 'D' is the 'District Average', which is the average for all of the schools in the Archdiocese of Washington. This average is higher than national averages, which is the dotted line, and our Blessed Sacrament students are frequently above this metric. Please note: sometimes there is a dip between Spring and Fall because of summer break. While we try to avoid this with reinforcement work over the summer, it is not a major concern. However, the overall line for your child should be moving steadily upward overall (this is related to the Scaled Score).
 
We're excited for the start to a new quarter of challenge and growth and we look forward to the hectic, joyful, activity-filled holiday season that will soon be upon us!
 
CYO Request : Soccer and cross country uniforms should be returned to the school office. The uniforms should be washed and put in a plastic bag (preferably Ziploc) with their child's name on it, and placed in the box in the school lobby marked, "CYO Uniform Return." 

Faithfully,
 
Chris Kelly 

November 13-16 is a A week
for lunch duty.   
 
Hot lunch is $18.00 for the week.  
 
Click here to sign up for lunch duty.
  Click here to download the lunch menu.
Click here to order lunch online.
  
Monday, November 12th from 8:30am - 1pm
 
The second day of Parent/Teacher conferences will be held  Monday, November 12th, from 8:30am - 1pm in 15 minute time slots (There is no school on Monday).   
 
***K-5 conferences are with the teachers and parents ONLY (please do not bring any K-5 students or younger siblings to conferences). However, middle school students are expected to attend the conference with their parents.

Free child care will be available in the music room during conferences. This service is provided for parents to use during their conference time only.  No sick children or children in diapers, please.
 
 
Mark your calendar for November 27... 


BSS has joined the global movement - a day of giving between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This week's #GivingTuesday theme is CARE! 
As in, "I am a Bulldog Who Cares..."

This campaign is powered by the Class of 2019!
   

Open House Dates-Send to your friends!

Thursday, November 15 -  9am coffee, followed by faculty remarks, student/parent led tours, plus Q & A session with principal and admissions personnel.  Held in the school auditorium for interested parents Grades K-8.

Thursday, January 10 - 7pm wine and cheese, followed by faculty remarks, student/parent led tours, plus Q & A session with principal and admissions personnel.  Held in the parish center for interested parents Grades K-8.

Tour leaders needed!!
Please email Nancy Ryan at nryan@blessedsacramentdc.org if you can serve in this role -no experience necessary at all!

All materials sent to you in advance and you are accompanied by a member of our student government.

Parents of Siblings applying to Blessed Sacrament for Sept 2019

Please don't forget that your applications for siblings for all grades are due on December 14, 2018.  Apply online at  www.bsstoday.org, where you will also find all of the application requirements.  If you have any questions, email  nryan@blessedsacramentdc.org.  

Thanksgiving Food Drive will be November 13, 14, and 15.
 
Each class is asked to bring in the specific  food  items listed below, as well as a donation of $5.00 to buy turkeys and fresh groceries.  These donations will be distributed to families in our school community, families in our parish social concerns program, and families served by the Spanish Catholic Center.
Please send in food and $5.00 cash donations by THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15th. 

Food donation items: (PLEASE NO GLASS JARS)     
 
K1 Lafionatis-two packages of mac-n-cheese
K2 Pavel- two cans of tuna
K3 Walsh Rogan- one large box of raisins
1A Vantine- two plastic jars of jelly
1B Brant- two boxes of corn bread
1C Cunningham- two bags or cans of beans
2A Kirlin- one jar of peanut butter 
2B Cogswell- two cans of pears
2C Hamilton- two boxes of cake mix
3A Anderson- one large can of pumpkin
3B Olson- one box of dry milk
3C Albertson- two cans of tomatoes  
4A Weschler- two cans of cranberry sauce
4B Proctor- two cans of soup
4C Zukowski- two cans of peaches
5A K. Tobin- two cans of evaporated milk
5B Markley- one medium bag of sugar
5C Scanlan- one large box of low sugar cereal
6A Ryan- one large bag of flour
6B Matthews- one medium bottle of oil
6C  McDaniel- one box of oatmeal
6D Guitart
- two packages of dry pasta 
7A Goodman- one box of low sugar cereal
7B Bastow 
two plastic jars of spaghetti sauce 
7C Shaffer- two packages of pudding
7D Mazyck- two cans of vegetables
8A Fetters- one large bag of rice
8B Tobin- one large bag of rice
8C Schiller - one large bag/box of stuffing
8D McCann- one large bag/box of stuffing
 
We thank you for your generosity!

 
 
  Blessed Sacrament Giving Tree 
 
 
It is time to get your star for the BSS Giving Tree.  Please consider participating in Blessed Sacrament's Giving Tree program to provide Christmas gifts for over 700 children in need in our area.
 
Virtual stars will be sent next week.    
                                           .CLICK HERE FOR A VIRTUAL STAR!
 
We are also in need of gift cards or cash donations.
 
Questions? Want to volunteer? Contact Renee Redpath, Courtney Knowles or Nikole Flax at BSDCGivingTree@gmail.com

BECOME A 2019 BENEFIT BENEFACTOR TODAY!

Become a Benefactor and support the Sister Rose Tuition Assistance Fund, which helps Blessed Sacrament School families experiencing hardship with temporary financial aid so their children can continue to attend BSS. 100% of the Benefactor funds go to help BSS families in need. Thanks to the generosity of last year's Benefit Benefactors, the HSA was able to give $40,000 for tuition aid disbursement!

GIVING LEVELS:
GODS - $500                        ATHLETES - $250                SPECTATORS - $150
Name on Invitation                  Name on Invitation                  Name on Invitation
Name on Benefactor Wall       Name on Benefactor Wall       Name on Benefactor Wall
1/2 pg Family Ad in Catalog    1/4 pg Family Ad in Catalog

The Deadline to appear on the Invitation is January 11, 2019. 

T o Become a Benefactor, go to  bss.maestroweb.com  or email
  The Sodality BAZAAR is coming your way TOMORROW from 10am-3pm!  
 
Bring your whole family to this parish event for a fun day of kid's activities (rumor is that there is a hoops contest to see who is the King or Queen of shooting), raffle baskets, lunch, vendors, specialty foods, bake sale and huge rummage sale including used clothes, white elephants, and this year, Replay Toys (used toys) and Second Chance Sports (used sporting goods) has been added! 
 
Plus, participate in a fabulous new event ..."SCAV on the AVE", a scavenger hunt for families, teens, tweens and you!  Winners get a choice of dinner and movie for 6 at the Mazza and Cheesecake Factory OR fun for 6 at DC's Escape Room!
 
Gotta be in it to win it!  (a kids only scavenger hunt with a Child's Play gift card and prize will be held at the Bazaar also).  
 

Greg Gannon 
Canned Food Drive

Save the Date - Dec 1, 2019
Registration is now open for new and returning families!
 
Go to www.ggcfd.org to sign up! 
 
The Blessed Sacrament Christmas Ornaments are still on sale!
 
Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind keepsake ornament.    
Ceramic, hand-crafted and painted with the Blessed Sacrament coat of arms, this ornament will look great on your Christmas tree for years to come.
 
To order, please click here.  
 Orders will be distributed the week of November 12th.  
Proceeds benefit the HSA.
Questions? Email Julie Ryan at jryan@acceleronlaw.com
SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, November 29th
Private Shopping Event at 
Child's Play  
(5536 Connecticut Avenue NW)  
from 7-9pm 
 
Do some holiday shopping you already have to do anyway and they'll donate 10% of eligible purchases to the HSA.
 
Projects the HSA has helped fund in the past include the Week of the Arts and a technology fund. Meet a friend. Wander the store with a glass of wine and a yummy holiday treat. Shop in peace.
Spring Benefit 

2019 Wine Cellar 
 
Spring Benefit 2019 Wine Cellar The BSS purchase credit is now available at Circle Wine & Spirits. Remember to please go to Circle to buy wine, beer and spirits. Your purchase will benefit BSS and the 2019 Spring Benefit in March. Just mention Blessed Sacrament at the register before they ring you up. Bottle donations for the wine cellar will begin in January. Contact Charles Fendig if you have questions: crfendig@yahoo.com. Thank you!
Remember parents: Before you make any purchases from Amazon, visit BSStoday.org first and click the Amazon logo! 

BSS will receive a percentage of all purchases made by users who CLICK THROUGH BSSTODAY.ORG FIRST!