🙏 The Messenger - January 28, 2022 🙏

January 28, 2022

Dear Families of St. Anthony of Padua,

We are about to enter enrollment season as we plan for our 2022-2023 academic year. With this comes the need to establish tuition. I am very grateful to our Finance Committee and School Advisory Committee for their help in establishing this number. As you may remember, last year we only raised tuition by 1.5% to help our families impacted by COVID. Thanks to our teachers and staff being conservative with budgets and expenses, we were able to continue without making any cuts to programs or activities.

As we look forward to the upcoming year, it is important to share that there has been a change in parish financial support of the school. The parish will continue to assist with tuition grants and sibling discounts. We are very grateful for this assistance. Due to a decrease in offertory, the parish must decrease financial support related to maintaining the building. We have taken that into consideration with next year’s tuition. Father Jesse is committed to increasing support of the school ministry in future years when the parish is able.

Additionally, it is important to recognize the incredible effort, talent and dedication of our faculty and staff. We are striving towards increasing teachers’ salaries so that they more closely mirror the salaries of teachers in our local Conroe ISD. These goals, as well as continuing to provide the latest in programs and curricula were all factors when the School Finance Council and myself set the tuition for the upcoming year. Next year’s tuition will increase by 3.5%. This is the same percentage increase as in the 2020-2021 year and just below the percentage increases in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. These new tuitions will be:

We recognize that paying school tuition is often a sacrifice for our families. We are humbled and grateful for your dedication to Catholic education and are honored to form and educate your students. Please closely watch the Messenger and your email for information on reenrollment which begins on Jan. 24th.

Only by His Grace,

Veronica Tucker

Principal

CURRENT STUDENT RE-ENROLLMENT FOR 2022-2023

Re-enrollment for returning students is Monday, January 24 – Wednesday, February 2.
You will receive an email on Jan. 24th when your student’s re-enrollment packet is ready on your FACTS Family Online (ParentsWeb) account.
Tuition and fee payments must be current on your FACTS account.
If you have questions or need assistance contact Cathy Russell at crussell@staopcs.org.

TUITION & FEE SCHEDULE 2022-2023

TUITION GRANT INFORMATION 2022-2023

ALL-SCHOOL NEWS

FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE - JANUARY 29, 2021

Fathers and Daughters - join us for dancing, refreshments, and fun at our Father-Daughter Winter Wonderland Dance! It will be a magical evening that will enchant your daughter and be a special memory forever in her heart. Thank you for letting us know if you plan to attend!

Father-Daughter Dance RSVP

2021-2022 YEARBOOKS

Order your '21-'22 Yearbooks now! All orders will be placed online using the button link below. Yearbooks are $45 and will be delivered at the start of next school year.

You may also create your own page or ad!

Full page ad - $150
1/2 page ad - $75
1/4 page ad - $50

ORDER A YEARBOOK!

PHOTO SHARING

Do you have great photos of athletics or school events that you'd like to share for use in our yearbook or in school media? Please upload photos to our school Dropbox at this link: https://www.dropbox.com/request/FempJtk0mApnkMAr3OjV. Photos can be uploaded at anytime before the end of the school year. Thank you for helping us showcase our students! If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Tressel at advancement@staopcs.org.

VOTE NOW: Which movie should we show at Family Movie Night on February 26th?

Despicable Me

Select

How To Train Your Dragon

Inside Out

Tangled

The Wizard of Oz

NURSE'S NOTES

We will continue to work closely with our local health department officials and the Catholic Schools Office to ensure the safety of our students and staff should the school experience a positive case of COVID-19. Please see the attached document regarding screening of your students and on-campus requirements should someone test positive for COVID-19.

Parents, please call or e-mail attendance@staopcs.org and Mrs. Pavlock (lpavlock@staopcs.org) if a child is out for illness.
REMINDER: Students must stay home if a household member is being tested for COVID and must remain out until results have returned.

ON-CAMPUS REQUIREMENTS

SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE (updated 12.29.21)

FREE COVID-TESTING FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Please see the information below from the Catholic Schools office. The testing center will only be open on Tuesdays for the next month. They will be taking up to 300 appointments.

The Archdiocesan Catholic School Office collaborated with Harris County Health department to setup a FREE COVID drive-thru testing site exclusively for Catholic school students, staff, family members of students or staff living in the home. The testing site will require each participant to register via the private registration link below. The number of registrants is limited and once full will close until the next COVID testing date. Individuals should not arrive to the site without a registration. Please note this link is only for current Catholic school students, staff, and their families. This service is not available to families or staff in the parish not associated with a Catholic school. The COVID test is a PCR with a 24-hour turn around for results. Results will be emailed to the email address provided at registration.

COVID Testing Date: Tuesdays

Times: 9:00am-2:00pm *Registration Required

Location: Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church Parking Lot: 11507 Huffmeister Rd, Houston, Tx, 77065

Catholic School Registration Link opens Sunday mornings: https://secure.hcphes.org/focusedschool/

(Only for students, staff and family members living in the household)

REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS:

On question #19 click “NO” since Catholic schools are not a district.
When you select an appointment select “CHRIST THE REDEEMER CATHOLIC SCHOOL” location.

Throughout the week we will be focusing on the theme of Love. Love. Love., based on the Cube of Love which Father Jesse will introduced to our students. For more information about the Cube of Love, this is website is a great resource: https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/the-cube-of-love.

Saturday, Jan. 29 or Sunday, Jan. 30

Students who attend Saturday evening or Sunday Mass in school uniforms can take a picture at church/piazza and send it to advancement@staopcs.org for Free Dress on Friday, Feb. 4th! Show your support of Catholic education!

11 a.m. Sunday Mass will be led by student readers, our school choir and Paduan Singers!

Monday, Jan. 31

Money for Mary stewardship project begins. Each classroom will be collecting dollars to support Mary's Meals. Mary's Meals sets up school feeding programs in some of the world's poorest communities, where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education. Which class will raise the most dollars throughout the week?

Tuesday, Feb. 1

Students may wear Red, White & Blue shirts with Uniform Bottoms in honor of Divine Mercy.
Students will participate in a school-wide Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Wednesday, Feb. 2 | Students will be sitting with Paduan Pods for Mass. There will be a procession of our Paduan Pods Saints’ signs facilitated by 8th graders.

Thursday, Feb. 3 | Paduan Pods & Cube of Love activities

Friday, Feb. 4

Pastries with Parents, 7 - 7:40 a.m., Join your student for a donut in Sheltz Hall & walk them to class.
Final Day to contribute to Money for Mary.
School will gather for afternoon assembly with activities related to our theme.
Students who wear their school uniforms to Sunday Mass and send a picture to advancement@staopcs.org may have Free Dress.

STEPS FOR STUDENTS

THANK YOU to Andrea Navarro for designing our team t-shirt & to Doucet Safety Analysis for their sponsorship! Jan. 26th is the registration deadline to receive a St. Anthony shirt!

St. Anthony of Padua's Steps for Students team will be raising funds to purchase a technology iPad cart to facilitate our new NWEA testing program. This is critical in allowing our testing to be conducted more efficiently among all grade levels. Thank you for supporting this effort!

FUN FOR TEAM MEMBERS:

The student who raises the most through their individual fundraising page will win an iPad!
All students who attend the race and beat Mrs. Tucker’s time will get a Homework Pass.
Middle School students who join our Steps for Students Team and attend the race will earn 2 service hours.
All students who join our team can wear their Steps for Students t-shirts and jeans on Monday, Feb. 14th.

JOIN OUR TEAM. There are 4 ways to participate:

5K TIMED: Compete against other runners and your best 5K time on this route! Price: $20.00 Race Fee
5K UNTIMED: Like the Timed 5K.... but not timed. Price: $18.00 Race Fee
FAMILY FUN RUN: Under a mile route. Price: $17.00 Race Fee
HIT THE SNOOZE FOR STUDENTS: Support Catholic schools without running the race! Register to Hit the Snooze and you will still receive the official race t-shirt shirt, but will not receive a bib or race medal. This is the option for those who would like to participate virtually. Price: $18.00 Race Fee

IMPORTANT DATES:

January 26, 2021: Deadline to guarantee a "St. Anthony Race Shirt" sponsored by Doucet Safety Analysis.
January 31, 2021: All race fees increase by $10.00.

JOIN OUR TEAM

PADUAN PARENTS

SAVE-THE-DATE - GO TEXAN DAY

Go Texan Day is Thursday, Feb. 17th and we always need volunteers to help run activity stations! A Sign-up Genius to volunteer will be in The Messenger in the coming weeks!

PADUAN PARENT LUNCHEON

Our Paduan Parent Coordinators are organizing another staff luncheon for the faculty of STAOPCS and we need volunteer help setting up and bringing in desserts & drinks! Thanks for helping!

PADUAN PARENT LUNCHEON - Jan. 28th

CAR LINE VOLUNTEERS - Morning & Afternoon

We always need volunteers who are willing to help with car line in the mornings or afternoons! If you can volunteer, please contact Mrs. Bierbaum at cbierbaum@staopcs.org. Thank you for offering to help!

RUN FOR THE ROSES GALA

PARTIES & SOCIALS

We are excited to announce more Gala Parties & Socials of the year! Gala parties and socials are hosted by faculty or families and can be adult, family or child-centered—and most importantly, FUN! All proceeds from Gala Parties & Socials benefit our school and students!

UPCOMING SIGN-UP PARTIES:

Thursday, January 27th - BREAKFAST BREAK - Middle School Students-4 Spots

Friday, January 28th - LIBRARY LOCK-IN - 2nd - 4th Grade Students-SOLD OUT

NEW - Thursday, Feb. 17th - BOWLING PARTY - Pre-K4

Friday, March 4th - LEGO PARTY - 1st - 4th Grade Students

IN-CLASS PARTIES

After great success last year, we will offer several Class Party options as in-class events held during the school day. Class Parties may be purchased for $500 for Pre-K through 5th Grade or $1000 for Middle School grades. When a party is purchased for a classroom, the teacher and all students are invited for the fun! Anyone may purchase a party for the benefit of one (1) classroom or grade (middle school), but we also encourage families to collaborate to select parties that their students will enjoy. Parties will be held on a mutually agreeable date with the teacher. In-Class Parties will be on sale until Feb. 5th.

In-Class Party Options:

1. BINGO & Brownies - This fun party for the whole class will feature bingo games, brownie treats, and PRIZES.

2. Pajama Party - Students can wear their pajamas, grab their favorite stuffy, and enjoy a movie and popcorn.

3. Sunny Day Sundae Social - Every child loves ice cream! Extra recess or social time and making the ultimate sundae will be on the schedule for this fun event!

4. Floats & Fun - Root Beer floats and old-fashioned outdoor games will be exciting for the whole class.

5. Minute to Win It - Are you in it to win it? Teams will complete various tasks using skill and speed while enjoying popcorn and treats.

Thank you to the families who purchased parties for their classes this week!

Pre-K4A: Richards, Sabatini, Shaughnessy, Brennan, Barr, Pesce, Pelaez, Hogan, Higham, Midden, Qadir, Grossi, Garfield, Chaparro Matute, Vigil, Beier, Bunyan, Juneau, Matson, and Rinando families (Sunny Day Sundae Social)

Pre-K4B: Sun, Faw, Dunkleberger, Carbajal, Mares Boles, Hance, Guerra, Le, Vigil, and Kroger families (Pajama Party)

Kindergarten-B: Junca, Jonkins, Bradford, Brignac, Burns, Cooper, George, Landry, Marin, McKinney, Mounce, Pelaez, Qadir, Navarro, Sierra, and Sewell families (Sunny Day Sundae Social)

1A: Walker family (Sunny Day Sundae Social)

2A: Bui, Cooper, Coscio, Enia, Fenn, Del Valle, Molina Ganau, Marin, McAlister, Morgan, Nash, Salinas, Sloan, & Terry families (Bingo & Brownies)

3A: Barr, Bradford, Liggon, Cardona, Harris, Midden, Tressel, Burns, Cooper, Cavazos, Johnston, Mateos, Jurkus, Piefer, Pond, & Tucker families (Pajama Party)

4A: Brennan, Flores, Gomez, Kinnicutt, Underwood, Ourso, Childress, Fenn, Aertker, Yepiz, Walters, Vigil, Mateos, Sloan, Molina Ganau, Kuna, Lipinski, Lewis, Daigle, Stamps (TBD)

TEACHER EXPERIENCES

Your student can be "Teacher for the Day"! Each year as a part of our gala, the teachers and staff donate experiences as a part of our silent auction.

These experiences will be open for online bidding during Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 28 - Feb. 4) ONLY!

Check out a preview now of all of the amazing experiences at: apschool.givesmart.com! Mark your calendars to participate and bid to win a unique opportunity for your student.

AUCTION BASKETS & REGISTRY

This year's Class Baskets have been re-imagined as themes with your choice of basket to participate in instead of being grade-level specific. Please see the flyer for more details on each basket theme.

To make shopping even easier, our gala committee has put together an Amazon Gift Registry (https://www.amazon.com/wedding/share/runfortheroses) featuring many of the items we would like to include in our auction baskets/themes. Items may be shipped directly to the school or dropped off at the front desk anytime during school hours. To ensure proper recognition at the auction and on our Gala website (apschool.givesmart.com), please submit your donations no later than March 11, 2022. Please include your family's name with your donations/gift cards so that we can provide proper donation acknowledgment.