He Likes It!

Hey Mikey!  If you are as old as dirt like me, you remember Mikey, who hated everything but Life Cereal.  John Gilchrist and his family lived in my neighborhood growing up (all three brothers were in the commercial), and they threw the best New Year's Eve party.  Luckily, we didn't have to eat Life cereal at the party.  When surrounded by so much cereal, this is what I think of - little Mikey.  Thank you, Lisa, for organizing this worthwhile event.  Thank you, Nicki, too, for organizing the SVDP drive.  Cleaning supplies were a great idea.  

Here is the plan for the annual Cereal Box Domino Challenge.  Right after the morning show, students in 8A who have finished their art project will stay behind to collect all the cereal in Angel's Wing and bring it to the main building.  I can meet them with a cart.  They will then help me to set up the cereal boxes.  Second grade has PE first period.  They should leave PE five minutes early so that they can be back in the main building promptly at 8:45, which is when we will do the Challenge.  Third grade will go to PE right after the event.   

Holy Card this weekend is the Holy Spirit.  Please let the students know on Monday that if they collected all the Holy Cards this year, they may come see me on Friday at 8:30 am.  Please first check that they have these cards:

Guardian Angel
Carlo Acutis
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Holy Family
Jesus
St. Anthony of Padua
St. Joseph
Our Lady of Lourdes

Holy Spirit

Next Tuesday is a Grade Level PLC.  I will be visiting the Early Childhood group and possibly Gr. 3-5 if there is time to discuss schedules.  Middle School is done, as well as Encore classes.  I would like the teachers to work with me to fill in the other pieces for self-contained classes.  

Thursday is the Student Council Inauguration and NJHS Induction in the church.  Please make your way over at 2 pm, and we will start promptly at 2:10 pm.  Grades 3-8 will attend the first part, which is Student Council.  Grades 5-8 will remain for the NJHS induction.  I would like 5th graders to see what they can aspire to next year.  

Finally, Friday is concert day and maybe visits to the Talking Pint!  PK 4 students know the best place in town for Friday nights!  Have a great week.  

Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week!

  And what a great parade it was!  The whole celebration was perfect.  My sincere thanks to Nicki, Vylam, and Maria H. for all their hard work putting this together.  We are also grateful to the Knights, the volunteers, Spoto HS Marching Band, Colonel Bosley for the parade lead vehicles, our Flag Brigade, the float creators, staff who helped with food, etc.  I hope I'm not forgetting anyone.  While all this amazing stuff was happening, there was also an amazing art show for everyone to enjoy.  Thank you, Darien.  This year's display was excellent, and the Glow Room gets 5 stars!  For that, we also thank Mrs. Moretuzzo and her helpers.  

This week, we continue our celebration with food and surprises hosted by the PTCO.  I saw the countries, but beyond that, I'm not sure what they are planning.  My assumption is that it will center around lunch, so be sure to stop by the break room each day.  If you didn't see the flyer, check Tidbits. 

Other celebrations include May Crowning, the 2nd-grade First Communion Reception, the Middle School Social, Volunteer coffee, AND.... the first PBL project presentation on Thursday by PK 4!!  I'm so excited about that.  Thank you to the teachers who have shared their units.  I'm actually glad that everyone didn't send me theirs, as it is taking time to review and give feedback.  If you haven't shared, please do so by tomorrow so you can begin working on it.  

Lastly, please remind the students to wear their uniforms to church next weekend.  Have a fabulous week!

Happy 25th!

 It's time to party and celebrate 25 years of making a difference in the lives of many students.  Please be sure you have read the document in the Principal's Points section of Tidbits for instructions about the afternoon.  There will be parent volunteers coming to your classroom between 1:30 and 2 pm to help you with logistics (bringing students to the float, IF you have a permission slip for them, and helping get the class onto the sidewalk).  Please be sure to follow up with any missing permission slips.  Teachers should hold on to those, so you know who to send out that day.  Thank you to everyone who is helping with the event, and thank you to all for doing your part.  Please let students know that they may wear their Disciple of Christ t-shirt and jeans/jean shorts/PE shorts.  That should be the only shirt they wear that day.  I will also send an email home.  Yesenia, please promote on the morning show and FB.  

This week, we begin collecting for SVDP.  Please encourage the students to bring in items.  See Tidbits for more details, as we are not collecting food this time.  

For teachers: Tuesday's faculty meeting is devoted to collecting evidence with your CIPA committees.  Friday, we will be doing the following: Presentation on Authentic Assessment through PBL, CIPA work, time for inventory, etc.  Our day will begin at 8 am in the Media Center.  

Have a wonderful week!

April Showers Bring May Flowers....

 If only.  Let's keep praying for rain, in moderation, of course.    

I'm not sure if everyone has access to the Terra Nova results yet.  The good news is that in most areas in most grades, students are performing better than the national average in meeting proficiency.  This is all due to your hard work.  But as with anything, there is always room for improvement.  When you look at the results, look at them through the lens of what skills do I need to reinforce in the next 5 weeks, while ensuring all the standards have been covered in each subject area?  (Yes, I know that sounds like Superman/woman level expectations, but I believe we can do it!  Take advantage of extra math time and flex time in elementary.)  If you need help with reports, please talk to Mary.  She is looking at reports for 3rd-5th on specific math skills that need reinforcing.  I would like math teachers to focus on any gaps in math that need to be filled before the end of the year.  

This week seems pretty quiet compared to the others.  If you are assigned to Tuesday's PTCO meeting (names are in the minutes from our last faculty meeting), please be in the FLC by 6:30 pm.

Thank you, and have a great week!

Even before this, Chaucer talked about April Showers in the Canterbury Tales.  But that is a story for another day.  

Jesus I Trust in You

Such a simple prayer, but so meaningful.  I wish you all a blessed Divine Mercy Sunday and may the mercy of Jesus fill your heart and bring you peace.

Just a heads up that I will be in and out over the next two weeks.  This week, I will be out on Monday and Wednesday morning and all day Friday.  Next week I will be out in the briefly in the middle of the day on Monday and all day Wednesday and Thursday.  Most of this is related to a very minor surgical procedure that feels like they are performing open heart surgery with all the prep and tests.  Friday, 4/24, is an administrator meeting, and either Mary or I will attend, depending on whether I can drive.  In between all that, I will complete most of the observations (hopefully).  

As far as what's happening this week, please keep up with emails, Tidbits, etc., and regularly check the calendar.  You should have already received the Book Fair and Field Day schedules, and Gr. 2-8 have what they need for ARK testing.  Teachers also received a letter/permission slip from Nicki that you can use to send home with students participating in the parade for your class.  Please reach out to your homeroom parent to get the list of students participating and hold onto the permission slips as they come in.  Only students with a permission slip may participate in the parade.  If you have any questions or need help with this, let me know.  

Have a fabulous week!

Happy Easter

 I hope everyone had a Blessed Easter and enjoyed the mini break.  It seems like it's all downhill from here, but it's a VERY long hill with lots of stops along the way.  Please be sure you are keeping up with emails, reading Tidbits, and checking the calendar.  Both April and May are filled with lots of happenings, and somewhere in between, learning continues.  

The most important event this month takes place on the 30th.  We will be going over all the details at the faculty meeting on Tuesday.  It's going to be great!

The 7th graders will be at Nature's Classroom this week, and our PK/K students will be participating in the St. Jude Trike-a-thon.  We will also be starting the new music schedule tomorrow.  

Have a great week, and remind the students to wear their uniforms to Mass next weekend.  

Happy Palm Sunday

 Good morning and Happy Palm Sunday.

As we enter this sacred time in the life of the Church, we are invited to walk more closely with Christ through Holy Week—a journey that begins with joyful praise and leads us through moments of sacrifice, reflection, and deep love. In our classrooms and throughout our school, this week offers a meaningful opportunity to pause, to pray, and to help our students understand the powerful story of faith, hope, and redemption that unfolds each day.  I look forward to our retreat on Thursday.  Melissa did a great job of providing the materials for a beautiful day of reflection.  I also can't wait for everyone to witness the Living Stations.  This year's group and choir presented an amazing performance on Friday night.  Thank you to everyone who played a part in this. 

As we move toward the celebration of Easter Sunday, may we be reminded of the promise of new life and the light that overcomes all darkness. Thank you for the ways you bring this message to life for our students through your words, your actions, and your example each day.