"Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence."

--Saint Francis de Sales
Dear St. Rose School Families,

Thank you for reaching out with kind words and gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week. Your recognition warms our hearts and bolsters morale. A big thanks from all of the faculty to our HSA for today's delicious lunch-- you fortified us!

As you know, this has been a challenging year. Our teachers have done a phenomenal job keeping students on track with the curriculum and maintaining a spirit of peace and possibility in the classrooms. I am so thankful to all of them for their dedication and faith. My sincere thanks as well to Nurse Bonnie who is our fearless captain in these Covid waters, Mrs. Sweeting for keeping the daily schedule flowing, Mrs. Verdi for her insightful, calming influence, and Officer Perez for keeping us all safe with a smile. I am also very grateful to Mrs. B whose heart for St. Rose School is a gift to us all.

This week our Preschool and Kindergarten classes held Mother's Day Teas while our 8th Graders and their 2nd Grade Buddies shared popsicles in celebration of their recent Confirmations and First Holy Communions. These connections are the golden threads that weave our St. Rose School tapestry. We are blessed!

We are looking forward to our Appreciation Car Parade next Friday, May 14th, 1:15-2:00 p.m. This will be a school wide red & white dress down day and a chance for us to THANK our many supporters including all of you! Please swing by for a festive salute in recognition of our success in this challenging year. We are excited that First Selectman Dan Rosenthal and Police Chief James Viadero will join us for this occasion. Monsignor Bob, Fr. Tom, Fr. Larry, the Knights of Columbus and our Rectory and Religious Ed staff will be waving as well.

The Blooms Brick Walk sales have begun. This is an exciting fundraiser that enables people to buy bricks to recognize occasions, connect to the past and pave the way to bright futures. We are excited to watch the path, which is located by the Angel of Hope statue in front of school, take shape. You can find details in the Blooms section of the newsletter. Please share the word!

I hope you received the mid week email which highlighted important dates between now and the end of the school year, June 16th. These dates are all listed below. We promise to keep in touch with any updates and look forward to all that is ahead.

Next Thursday, May 13th, is the Ascension. We will attend mass virtually that day at 9:00 a.m. which means there will not be a school mass on Friday May 14th. Please join us if you can.

Sister Mary Ellen from Parish Social Concerns Committee extended their thanks to the school community for our donation from the Lenten Mission Drive. You can read her letter here.

Now it's time to step back from the work and school week to enjoy some fresh air and family fun. May God bless all of our Mothers with a beautiful Mother's Day and may the Blessed Mother fortify you in your vocation as you guide your precious children through life.

God bless,

Mr. Bardhyl Gjoka
IMPORTANT DATES


May 13th -- Feast of the Ascension, 9:00 a.m. virtual school mass

May 14th -- "Still Blooming" car parade 1:15-
2:00 p.m. St. Rose parking lot

May 31st-- School closed for Memorial Day

June 3rd -- 8th Grade Class Night

June 6th -- 8th grade Graduation, 1:00 p.m.

June 8th -- Kindergarten Graduation. 10:00 a.m.

June 9th -- Preschool Graduation

June 9th -- Please note this is a FULL Day of school for Grades 1-7 (previously half day)

June 14th -- Field Day, early dismissal 11:30 a.m.

June 15th -- Early Dismissal, 11:30 a.m, PD

June 16th -- Last day of school for 1st-7th Grade, Early dismissal 11:30 am.
PRESCHOOL CORNER

JOIN US FOR OPEN HOUSE FRIDAYS at the PRESCHOOL, 10:00-11:00 a.m. These will take place every Friday between now and June 4th. Please share the word!

We offer Peek A Boo 2's, 3-year-old, 4-year-old and Transitional Kindergarten (5-year-old) programs. Questions? Email admissions@srles.com. Weekday tours -- both in person and virtual -- can be arranged with Mrs. Coppola.

A warm welcome awaits you!

Important Dates

May 31st -- School closed, Memorial Day

June 7th -- Last day of school 3-year-old and 4-year-old class

June 9th -- 4-year-old and Transitional Kindergarten Graduation, 10:00 a.m.
6th grade Science students presented 3D animal or plant cell projects.
BLOOMS ACTIVITIES

Blooms Brick Walk sales are OPEN! Bricks make great gifts -- Confirmation, First Holy Communion, Graduation, Weddings, Birthdays, In Memory of a Loved One. Buy a brick to connect to the past and pave the way for many bright futures. Order online
https://polarengraving.com/stroseoflimaschoolQuestions? email: bloomsbricks@srles.com.

Blooms Appreciation car parade, "We're Still Blooming!" on Friday May 14th. This is a red & white dress down day for the students and if the school spirit strikes, decorate your car and drive into a festive parking lot between 1:15 and
2:00 p.m. that day for a festive salute as we celebrate, together, our success in this challenging year.
ATHLETICS NEWS
HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE!
Congratulations to our Second graders who received their First Holy Communion last Saturday.

STUDENT LIFE
by Mrs. B
 
Dear St. Rose Families, 

As the rays of hope shine brighter and we inch closer to “that which we were used to”; the signs of coming back in person as a community is awakening our campus in a most appreciated way! This past weekend our second grade families gathered to celebrate the First Eucharist of our second graders. Our handsome young gentlemen and lovely young ladies were greeted by a sunny day and the blessing of drawing closer to Jesus in their spiritual life! They were able to celebrate with prayers and popsicles on Wednesday, as they joined their 8th grade buddies who also took another step in deepening their faith, after making their Confirmation two weeks ago! 
On Tuesday, Mrs. Thorne put her apron and hat back on, and picked up her spatula once again, to flip pancakes as we celebrated our Class of 2021! It was a wonderful sight to see Mrs. Thorne smiling in her kitchen and serving breakfast; and our 8th graders were sitting around the Gathering Hall with pancakes and big smiles; bringing back the hum of friendship and good food being shared once again in the hall! 

During the week our littlest learners hosted their Mother’s Day Tea; an annual celebration that took place, on several days this week, in person, and in the sunny backyard of the Preschool building. 
Ending One Year and Planning for the Next 
We also realize that our parents might be looking for programs this summer, especially to help with review and reinforcement of academic skills. At this time we are considering offering several academic options for the summer; as well as a few other clubs. A minimum enrollment would be required; so at this time I am gathering information to determine interest in attending an academic program to work on skills. Please contact me at dean@srles.com with your child(ren)’s name, grade level(s), and academic area(s) that you would like us to offer. Once we determine the interest level, we will announce more information about the programs and dates. 
Summer work, supply lists, and other information in preparation for next school year will be shared as we get closer to the end of May. 

Celebrations and Gratitude 
It was a heartwarming sight to see the children bringing in flowers, cards, and gifts for their teachers, with such excitement and joy this week. Throughout the week, they were smiling and some even skipping down the hallway, as they couldn’t wait to present their tokens of gratitude to their teachers! Thank you to our families for making our teachers feel appreciated throughout the week; we are grateful and truly blessed with the many ways you showered them with your appreciation; and especially for your support during this most challenging year! We also want to thank the HSA for arranging a delicious lunch for the teachers to end their week! 

Nurse Bonnie was also honored this week, on Nurse Appreciation Day, with visits from the classes as they presented her with handmade cards and songs! She keeps us safe and healthy each day and has been in the trenches of this pandemic helping us move through it safely and with hope! We are blessed and grateful that she belongs to the SRS community! 
Today, ironically, is School Lunch Hero Day, honoring those men and women who cook and serve our school lunches. What a coincidence that Mrs. Thorne was back in the kitchen this week, to make and serve breakfast, and we look forward to the days we will be gathering together once more for lunchtimes!
This weekend is one of the most wonderful celebrations, Mother’s Day! I wish all our St. Rose moms, grandmothers, aunts, caregivers, and those who, in the example of our Blessed Mother, show our children unconditional love and care! I hope that you are showered with TLC; deserved every day, but especially this weekend!! A small treasure, handmade with love, should be finding its way to you this weekend! The joy and love that was put into it over the last few weeks, comes from the heart of a child who loves and is proud of you, beyond measure!! Happy Mother’s Day!! 

Dear Lord, I approach you to give thanks to all mothers who so generously and freely give love, comfort, and guidance to their children every day. I thank you for the sacrifice each mother makes every day. Let them see that they are loved, appreciated, and respected. And I pray you bless them and touch them with your Grace. Amen. 

As this is the month of our Blessed Mother, I am offering a rosary for the safety, health, and peace of all our St. Rose families! 

Warm Regards! Stay Well! 
Mrs. B

April - June 2021 photos

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14GDQVodoKtst1KT0BVKa-M24Oirfo5VE?usp=sharing

2021 photos

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yjxPEKOoCMXexmIHfbX1qkp6EbJoDPfI?usp=sharing
8th Graders and their 2nd Grade Buddies shared popsicles in celebration of their recent Confirmations and First Holy Communions.
ALTAR SERVER UPDATE

We're coming back. It's a process, but Monsignor Bob is asking the various ministries at St. Rose to begin rebuilding. We thank you for your service before the pandemic, and eagerly await your return. As you know, serving at the altar of our lord is a pleasure and a privilege. It is a great service that you can offer to our parish, our priests and our Lord. We will also be training new altar servers
HSA NEWS

Dear Parents,

We were thrilled to provide a special lunch for the faculty and staff today as part of our Teacher Appreciation efforts. We look forward to resuming our traditional luncheon next year, but hope that our beloved staff felt appreciated today. We could use some volunteer support to help us finish out the year strong with teacher appreciation efforts. Please connect with us if you can help!

Our preliminary plans for 2021-22 will be shared at the next HSA meeting which will take place via Zoom on Thursday May 20th at 6:30pm. We welcome questions in advance so that we can make sure to cover all important topics.

As mentioned last week, we are seeking candidates for a new HSA secretary. Please be in touch if you are interested in learning more about the role. We would like to confirm a candidate for election during the next HSA meeting, so it would be helpful to know of your interest by next Friday.

Have a great weekend!

Your HSA Board
Preschool and Kindergarten students held Mother's Day Teas and presented Mommies with handmade cards, corsages, recipe books with lots of love.
St. Rose School
40 Church Hill Road
Newtown, CT 06470
203-426-5102
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