Mary did you know....

 ...that our students are amazing?!   Thank you, Jeff, for highlighting the talent that lies within each of our students.  Thank you, Heather, for creating a beautiful Nativity scene, helping with logistics, and bringing it all together.  Thank you, Yesenia, for making the concert available to those unable to attend.  Thank you to everyone else who had a hand in making this a wonderful night.  

I'm not sure where the first half of the year went, but here we are in the final week before Christmas.  Tomorrow is a Holy Card free dress day.  The holy card to be looking for is the Holy Family.  Friday is also a jean day with a Christmas shirt, red or green shirt, or a spirit shirt.  

All I can say about this week is that the children will be crazy, so just help them keep it together.  I'm hoping that being away from each other over the weekend will help bring down the number of students who are sick.  I believe we had about 55 students absent on Friday.  Remind them to wash their hands often.  

Finally, can't wait for Friday.  Remember to bring a small gift to participate in the left/right game (it will be epic).  When you arrive, you will each receive two drink tickets.  They can be used for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.  Or you can give me yours, and I will auction them off :)

Have a Merry Week!  

Hail Mary full of Grace....

Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception! May Our Lady's purity fill your heart with joy and peace.  Remember that Monday is a holy day of obligation, and we are switching our Mass day this week.  If you have an encore class on Monday, please speak with the teacher and see if it can be switched to Wednesday.  First grade and 8A may be able to switch to Wednesday morning for art and PE, respectively.    

The week is pretty quiet until we get to Friday, when all the fun begins.  We have Marvelous Mustang (please complete the spreadsheet and inform parents), followed by practice at the church (be seated and ready promptly at 9:30 am), and the concert and PTCO after-party at night.  I'm looking forward to a great evening.  

Please remind students that next weekend is Uniform Sunday, followed by free dress Monday, and our last week before Christmas break.  This is the time of year when the students get anxious as Christmas is getting close, and it's important to keep them focused on their work.  For our Jesse Tree this week, the middle school teachers have what they need for the students to present on the morning show Tuesday through Friday.  They will pick up PK3 through 1st-grade helpers on the way and should be at the morning show by 7:45.  I will deliver the materials for the final week by Tuesday.  

Have a blessed 2nd week of Advent as we focus on peace.  May the Lord fill us with a deep and abiding peace and help us share that peace with everyone we encounter, especially those who need it most.

Feeling Thankful

Thanksgiving is a great time to think about all the things we are thankful for.  For me, Thanksgiving is every day that I come to school.  While many days I face challenges and negativity, I am grateful for those around me who keep me smiling.  Thank you all for being an amazing staff and making the students a priority and doing what you know is right.  

I know that most, maybe all, of you will agree that APEX had us Leveled Up!  I'm not sure who had more fun that day, the kids or the adults.  I know I had fun even though I was pelted with ice-cold water (something very unexpected!).  We raised $65,600, which I believe is the final number.  Of that, we retain about $37,000.  While it seems like they get a lot, it's not all profit.  Most goes to their employee wages, t-shirts, lanyards, prizes, food, etc.  They definitely earned their money.  Thank you all for supporting this event!

Here's what you need to know about this week.  Mary will be out on Monday and Tuesday, class pictures take place on Thursday, and I will be at a principal meeting on Thursday morning.  On Friday, PK3-1st grade will be having a special Thanksgiving lunch in the FLC at 11 am.  Grades 2-5 will eat either in the classroom or outside that day.  Middle School will eat in the FLC at their regular time.  

This will be my last blog until Dec. 7.  I will be out of the country the week we are on break and may not have an opportunity to write this the weekend before we return.  So here is what is happening the week after Thanksgiving Break:

• Wonderland shop takes place all week.  PK will go on Wednesday.  All other classes will attend on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, with Friday morning set aside for anyone who missed.  A schedule will be sent from either Mary or PTCO.  
• Advent retreat is on Wednesday.  It will also be our first Wednesday for reconciliation.  I have put the schedule for reconciliation on the Google calendar.
• Thursday is my next Principal's Coffee (pray for me).
• Friday is the Middle School Social

Have a wonderful week and a great Thanksgiving Break!

And by the way, everyone kept saying, Don't worry, it's kindergarten.  They will only reach your knees with the water gun.  Notice how everyone is aiming up!  I think the MS boys got me in my ear. :) 

Soak Up the Fun!

...and bring your camera.  If only Friday could be as warm as today.  I will request that the Super Soakers be filled with warm water.  A BIG thank you to Ms. Susana.  Kindergarten is well in the lead and should be the Soakers.  Small class and small children.  How bad can it be? 

Teachers, please remind students to wear their APEX shirts on Friday with PE shorts.  Originally, it was a jean day and spirit shirt, but since they will be running the obstacle course, PE shorts are a better choice.  We will inform parents throughout the week.  

Most of the class interruptions with APEX are done.  There are a few challenges this week with rewards for the winning classes, but no more lessons.  Mary will send out the schedule for Friday during the week.  

Tomorrow is Holy Card free dress.  The card to look for is Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Finally, all teachers will meet in the media center at 12:30 pm.  Bring your lunch with you.  We will begin with a follow-up to Dr. Mark's PD, and then you will break into your CIPA groups to work on everything we discussed until 3:30 pm.  

Have a great week!

Ice, Ice Baby....

 Thank you to all those brave souls who allowed themselves to be Iced! It was a lot of fun to watch, and I'm sure you will be saying the same when I get super soaked on the 14th.  This was a great week, and thank you all for being flexible and joining in the fun.  One more week of Mighty Matt!

Please encourage your students to bring in donations to SVDP. With what is happening in the government, it is needed now more than ever.  Also, remind them that next weekend is uniform weekend.

Teachers, please see my separate email regarding this week's faculty meeting and spirit night.

Have a fabulous week and keep on Leveling Up!

Level Up!

 

It's here!  Our first-ever Apex fundraiser.  We will all learn more at the pep rally at 2:15 on Monday and the teacher rally at 3:30.  Teachers, please make your way to the media center right after carline.  It should only take 15 min.  While this is still within the time teachers are scheduled to be at school, we are canceling our faculty meeting on Tuesday.  That will give you Tuesday afternoon if you need to schedule a conference.  If you are part-time and not normally here on a Monday afternoon, I will fill you in on Tuesday.  

Thank you to all who came out (and double thanks if you decorated a trunk) to support our Trunk or Treat event.  This was the best attendance we have had for a couple of years.  Everyone had a great time!

Don't forget, Friday is Marvelous Mustang and Halloween/Fall shirt and jean day.  If a student has had three or more uniform violations, they may not participate.  Also, please go over the jean day rules with you students.  

Finally, I wanted to share a picture with you.  While eating breakfast, I was listening to the news and the ongoing government shut down then later, while sitting on the beach, I noticed something that reminded me of our country and I found amusing.  Even the seabirds are divided.  These are different types of seabirds, but it was interesting how they stayed together in one area but remained segregated.  

Let's continue to pray for peace and understanding here at school, with our families, in our country, and in the world.

Have a Leveled-Up week!

 

Encountering Christ

Thank you all for joining me on Friday at the Ringling for some time to rest, reflect, enjoy good company, see the beauty of God's creation, and hopefully have a moment where you encountered Christ.  From the smiles and the kind words shared by many, I believe it was a good day, and my only regret is that I don't know how to top this one next year.  I hope you all learned something you didn't know.  I learned from Darien how to remember the symbols for each evangelist.  I learned from Anabel that there is a symbol of the Gates of Hell in the Triumph of Divine Love painting, and that Monsignor Carruthers and I love the Blue Madonna (as do many others).  He also shared a great story about his connection with that painting.  It was a great day, and I hope you hold onto some of the peace you felt that day as we return to school tomorrow.  

On Tuesday, we will have an AED machine installed in the Angel's Wing at 2 pm.  There will then be a brief presentation and photo op with the MS PLC group at 2:15.   

Thursday, there will be vision screening.  Gail will let you know the schedule.  

Finally, Friday is Trunk or Treat.  Setup begins at 5:30 pm and you will want to be sure your car is out of the parking lot by 6:15.  

Have a Triumphant Week!