St. Louis Catholic School Newsletter |
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November 19, 2021
Dear St. Louis families,
Good things are happening here! We kicked off our week with World Kindness Day—Ms. Balough made beautiful Kindness banners for each grade to add kind actions they will take daily, or kind words they will use. It is heartening to see so many great ways our students are seeking to be leaders in our community using kindness. We also celebrated our Hawk runners on Monday during assembly: Jason Day (7th place) and Charlotte Koch (15th) finished in the top 15 in their cross country races; the 3rd/4th grade track team finished in 2nd place; the 5th/6th grade track team finished in 6th place; and the 7th/8th grade track team finished in 2nd place. At the fall track meet, on the individual level, St. Louis runners won 104 ribbons, including 22 first places, 17 second places, and 32 third places. Such a wonderful accomplishment and we are truly appreciative of our coaches who share their time and talent with our students all fall season!
We are approaching the end of our first trimester. The portal will close to parents on Monday afternoon so teachers can finalize grades and verify information accordingly. Please remember to check in on your child’s academic progress in Power School. Report Cards will come home with students Friday, December 3rd in the Friday folders.
Virtual days happen next Monday and Tuesday as a way to ensure students are familiar with the routine and process. Teachers will be up; loading a variety of assignments or projects for students to work on these two days and will additionally be scheduling Zoom video conference times to meet students and provide instruction in real time. These days will be a combination of synchronous and asynchronous work for students.
One last note as we are approaching the end of our first trimester, a very special thank you to you for your support of St. Louis School and adherence to school policies enacted due to COVID-related restrictions. We are particularly grateful for everyone who helped us pivot through carline drop off in the morning and who continue to make the right turn daily. With COVID and so many logistical pieces that have had to be modified as a result, our morning carpool was forced to change this year. We recognize that this has added a few minutes to your morning drive, but it is evident daily, that your cooperation in turning right makes a huge difference with traffic flow and limits congestion.
With Thanksgiving break nearing, we are ever mindful of the many blessings and good fortune we have here in our school community. We give thanks to our dedicated, talented teachers and staff, to our students, and to our Hawk families, as well as to our continued good health.
Enjoy your weekend!
Anne M Dyke
Principal
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Sibling Applications for 2022-23
Priority Deadline: December 1st
If you have an incoming sibling for Kindergarten (that doesn’t attend St. Louis Preschool), or if you have an incoming sibling who would be transferring into grades 1-8 from another school, please know that the priority deadline for admissions is December 1st.
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Lessons & Carols
We tried to make an in-person Lessons & Carols work out this year, but there are too many logistical pieces working against us related to COVID. We recognize Lessons & Carols is a much loved tradition, and we want to share the gift of the Nativity story with you, though it will look different. St. Louis will be creating a Lessons & Carols video production that we will happily share with families this year. Our goal is to keep everyone safe, healthy and well so that they are able to enjoy the Christmas season. With more student vaccinations, we hope to be able to gather in larger groups in the new year.
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Our school is participating in the annual Scholastic Book Club’s Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive benefiting Pajama Program, a national nonprofit organization that provides new pajamas and storybooks to at-risk children. Pajama Program supports children living in shelters, group homes, and foster care.
If you would like to participate, bring a new pair of pajamas to school between November 8 - December 3. Guidelines and more info can be found HERE.
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Please see the attached flyer from the Fairfax County Health Department re: COVID vaccination clinics for children ages 5-11.
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KIDS HELPING KIDS:
Student Council Sponsoring Gently Used Children's Book Drive
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Giving Tuesday Spark (formerly Giving Tuesday Kids) encourages young people around the world to do good for one another. It is an opportunity for kids to share their own treasures with other kids less fortunate. This year, the St. Louis School Student Council is asking students to practice our mission to love, learn and lead, and take part in a children's book drive to benefit Reading is Fundamental NOVA, an organization that distributes books and the love of reading to children in need throughout the Northern Virginia area.
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NOV. 30 - DEC. 10
This Christmas Season, clear up your bookshelves by donating gently used children's (PS-8th Gr.) books. Students are asked to select one of their own books to share with a child in need. The donation should be totally up to the child.
Collection boxes will be in every homeroom.Please see the flyer in Friday Folders for more information.
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We love welcoming Him into our school daily, but this special one took a tumble out of a family's car during morning drop-off. Please let the front office know if this is your's. |
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Cookies & Ornaments - Orders Due Dec. 5th
Pre-orders only! Place your order by December 5th. Cookies and ornaments may be picked up from Santa and his helpers on Saturday, Dec. 11, 6:30-8pm at the school entrance. A sweet ending to your Christmas lights tour!
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Cookie Decorating Kit
$30.00
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Holiday Cookie Assortment
$25.00
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St. Louis 2021-22 Ornament
$12.00
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2nd Annual Christmas Lights Tour - Dec. 11
Will your yard be decked out for the holidays?
What a great way to share the holiday spirit this season with St. Louis School families! Sign up by Dec. 1st to have your home included on the 2nd Annual Christmas Lights Tour!
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Advent begins as Thanksgiving concludes. Share with us how your family prepares for Christmas! We'll feature your photos in our "Let Every Hawk Prepare Him Room" social media campaign throughout December.
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Hawk Happenings - Week of November 22, 2021 |
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Monday, November 22
Tuesday, November 23
- Virtual Instruction Day
- 1st Trimester Ends
Wednesday, November 24
- No School - Thanksgiving Break
Thursday, November 25
- No School - Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, November 26
- No School - Thanksgiving Break
Saturday, November 27
- Yay Lunch! order before midnight!
- Santa & Mrs. Claus Visit, 9-11am (SOLD OUT)
Monday, November 29
- No School - Bishop's Day Off
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CALENDAR UPDATE:
Please note, Friday, December 17 is an 11:30 dismissal day. Afternoon EDC will not be available.
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Did you know you can subscribe to our school calendar for real-time updates, convenient links to SUGs and flyers, and more? Subscribe to auto-populate your iCal, Outlook 2007+ or Google calendar
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As two of our CYO sports seasons come to an end, we’d like to recognize our coaching teams. Thank you for your time, patience and encouragement.
Cross Country - Brian Nienaber, Matthew Spierenburg, and Brandon Knapp
Tennis - Peter Karenge, Marcy Grzadzinski, Scott Youman, and Daniel Huelsman
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&pizza Spirit Lunch and Dinner - December 8
Help raise some serious dough for the St. Louis PTO by ordering from &pizza at 5926 Kingstowne Towne Center from 11 AM until midnight on Wednesday, December 8. Place an order in shop (with flyer) or online (with code SLPTO) and 50% will be donated back to St. Louis PTO.
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VOLUNTEER
COORDINATORS
Jannette Amedome
Juliette Theroux
Don't forget to log your volunteer hours!
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
NON-VIRTUS:
Pictures with Santa Volunteers & Donations
Volunteers and donations are still needed to make this a special event! Volunteers will help decorate before the event, greet families, help at the ornament craft table, assist with pictures, and help clean-up. If you can't help in person, we also have some items needed for donations. Sign up HERE.
VIRTUS REQUIRED:
Cafeteria Helpers - December
Parent volunteers are needed to assist with receiving, sorting and distributing Yay Lunches AND selling ice cream. This is a 2-hour a week commitment from 11am-1pm. Sign up HERE.
Recess Monitors - December
We are in need of recess monitors during outdoor recess in December. It includes supervising all grades from K-8 between 11:30am and 1:40pm daily. Fill out and send in the interest form.
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CYO Tennis Team Update
CONGRATULATIONS to the St. Louis Tennis Teams! U.S. OPEN 2 finished in 4th place and WIMBLEDON 2 finished in 3rd place. The coaches were amazed at the improvement in the players abilities. The heart and soul they committed to winning their singles and doubles matches was impressive! Coach Peter, Coach Dan, Coach Scott and Coach Marcy would like to extend their appreciation to the parents and the players for their commitment to supporting the tennis team!
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CYO Cross Country Final Results
The final results from the championship meet are in. Every runner on the team did have a PR (personal record) at the championship meet, which is an outstanding achievement. Additional kudos to Jason Day and Charlotte Koch who finished in the top 15 in their highly competitive races. Last, many thanks and well wishes for continued success to Sean Carlson, Charlotte Koch, and Isaac Nienaber who competed for the last time as CYO cross country athletes.
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CYO Fall Track Final Results
At the CYO fall track meet, all three teams had outstanding showings. The 3rd/4th grade team finished in 2nd place! The 5th/6th grade team finished in 6th place. The 7th/8th grade team finished in 2nd place! On the individual level, team members won 104 ribbons, including 22 first places, 17 second places, and 32 third places. Equally importantly, throughout the meet, our athletes set a great example of competing with virtuous excellence and team camaraderie. All the team athletes should be congratulated and commended for this outstanding showing.
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CYO Spirit Wear
We are making our second and final offering of CYO Spirit Wear available for order. The t-shirts are sanctioned for wearing on PE days with the rest of the gym uniform, and kids need not be on any CYO team in order to buy and wear one. There are shirts specific to basketball and cheerleading, a generic Hawks shirt not specific to any team, and there is a performance wear t-shirt that track team members should buy, but anyone can purchase any one of these shirts and show your Hawks spirit. There are also hoodies available with all the logos and then can be worn as outerwear going to and from school but CANNOT be worn as part of the school uniform during the day. Spirit wear can be ordered directly from Sew n’ Luv, a local independent business, at this link: https://www.sewnluv.com/st-louis. This site will be open from November 1 through 11:59 pm, Sunday, Nov. 21. The deadline will NOT be extended. We will deliver spirit wear about 2-3 weeks. If you have any questions about your order, please contact Judy Conti at jconti@nelp.org.
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Arlington Diocese Golden Jubilee
Did you know three years from now, in November 2024, our diocese will celebrate its 50th anniversary? In commemoration of this Golden Jubilee, Bishop Burbidge has announced our diocese will have two preparatory years (Remember and Rejoice) followed by the crowning of the jubilee year. Please visit HERE for more information on how you and your family can participate in the preparations.
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Puffs! Third or Nothing! Final Weekend
Current St. Louis students Katie Dunn, Alison Nienaber, Isaac Nienaber, and Henry Welle along with St. Louis alum J.J. Dunn are performing in Puffs, a farcical play about a certain school of magic and magic. The final performances will be this weekend on Friday, November 19 at 7pm, Saturday, November 20 at 7pm, and Sunday, November 21 at 3pm at Bryant HS, right next door to St. Louis. You can get more information and buy tickets at mvcct.org.
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Troop 680 Christmas Wreath Sale
Boy Scout Troop 680 is selling fresh Christmas wreaths, sprays, table top trees & centerpieces after morning masses on Nov. 28, Dec. 5 and 12. Come by the teachers’ parking lot after 8:45, 10:30 and 12:30 masses to purchase a wreath and support the scouts. Items can be purchased online as well at: https://giftitforward.com/ and use our code TR680VA001. Thank you for your support.
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Little Theatre of Alexandria: A Christmas Carol
St. Louis student Jillian Sheedy is performing in the Little Theatre of Alexandria's annual production of A Christmas Carol, December 4, 8, 10, 12, 16 & 18. Tickets may be purchased at thelittletheatre.com.
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