Welcome to the Wild West!

It's time to saddle up and head out to the American Frontier Book Fair.  This year we are trying a different vendor for our Book Fair, Follett.  We did just learn, however, that Follett is discontinuing doing book fairs so we will most likely go back to Scholastic in the spring.  Please be sure to check the schedule I shared with you and you bring your class on time for the preview on Monday and purchasing Tues-Wed at your assigned times.  Most classes are scheduled during ELA.  If you are self-contained you can adjust your own schedule as needed.  I sent out a revised schedule this morning.  Please be sure you are using that version.  

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming a new member to our faculty, Ms. Anya Muyers.  Anya will be the new 3rd-grade teacher.  She graduated from Academy of the Holy Names in Tampa, comes with excellent skills, experience in teaching, and a joy for educating young minds.  We are excited to have Anya join us and I know she and Anabel will make a dynamic team in 3rd grade.

On Thursday, students may wear Western-themed outfits or add accessories to their uniforms.  Friday is a half-day and we will follow the half-day schedule which I will add to the schedules in Google Drive.  

Speaking of uniforms, many students are NOT in uniform.  If you are unsure of the uniform requirements, please refer to the handbook.  Here are the violations I am seeing in many of the grades:

• Jewelry (biggest violation - bracelets, necklaces, and rings)
• belts - boys in grades 3-8 must wear a belt.  The only exception is if a 3rd-grade boy is still wearing the pull-on style shorts that K-2 wears. 
• shirts not tucked in
• length of skort (this is a problem in middle school) - I spoke to a few.  It may not be more than 2 inches above the knee.  

Teachers should be giving out uniform violations and keeping track.  If they receive 3 violations they may not participate in the next Friday jean day on Oct. 29.  Students should receive a violation every day until in uniform unless you have a parent note stating when a new skort will be purchased, new shoes, etc., and then follow up.  

Teachers, Monday's PLC will be a subject area meeting.  I put notes in the PLC timeline shared document.  There will be 4 groups (Phonics, Wit & Wisdom, Math, Encore).  If you teach both W&W and Math, you should attend the W&W one.  Please reach out to each other to determine a meeting place and add minutes from your meeting.  

Upcoming Prof. Dev. for teachers:

• Oct. 1 is a half-day with PD from 1-3 pm.  This PD is for all teachers grades K-8.  Gina will be presenting on Part I of the Evolving Learner.

• Oct. 8 is our Diocese-wide professional development day.  There will be two presentations, both here at St. Stephen for all teachers K-8 as follows:

• 8-9:30 am - i-Ready webinar (in the media center)
• 10-12 noon - Part II of the Evolving Learner

Finally, more good news to share.  We are in the final stages of the hiring process with our new ESE teacher who is scheduled to start on Oct. 4.  I will spend the first couple of days with Melissa and the new teacher going through files and creating schedules.  She will be introduced in Tidbits this week.  

Gina is out on Monday and I will be helping in 3rd grade and with lunch and also judging doors so if you need me, the afternoon is best.  

Have a wonderful week! 

SSCS Students Shine at the SVDP Ladies Tea

Today I had the pleasure of watching our students perform at the St. Vincent de Paul Ladies Tea in the Family Life Center.  A BIG thank you goes to Timothy for preparing the students to perform and Nicki and her volunteers who created a beautiful stage setting and helped with a last-minute addition to the show.  They sang beautifully, performed skits, and those 3rd graders certainly know how to dance!

I would like to share some good news.  We have hired a 3rd-grade teacher - Yay!!  She will be joining our staff on Monday, Sept. 27, and I will introduce her in Tidbits this week.  She and Anabel will be a Dynamic Duo in 3rd grade.  I will also be interviewing this week for an ESE Teacher, Instructional Assistant, and Extended Day Assistant.  Once again, please be patient with Gina and me this week as we continue to fill in and multi-task.  People will say there is a calm before the storm, I like to think this is the storm before the calm.  

Finally, Friday is a jean day (please review the handbook with students) and it is also our first Marvelous Mustang award day.  I am hoping to present them live on Friday and we will send more details this week.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Happy Labor Day Weekend

 I hope everyone is finding time to rest and enjoy some sunshine during this long weekend.  Last week was a blur and the office was a busy place which is why this announcement has taken me a few days to get out.  Hopefully, you have already met the newest addition to our staff, Mrs. Porsha Grier.  We are very blessed to have Porsha join our staff.  She comes with experience and knowledge in the area of special education and she has jumped right in getting to know our students.  Be sure to stop by and welcome her to St. Stephen!  

We have also hired a teacher assistant for PK 3, Mrs. Anabel Cordoba.  She will be starting on Tuesday and also comes with experience working with students.  Please join me in welcoming Anabel to our staff.  

I continue to interview for the 3rd-grade position and hope that we will have a replacement as soon as possible to make for a smooth transition.  Keep praying that the right person will come to us.  

Just a reminder to turn in your Faith Formation plan on Tuesday, and I want everyone to know that next week will be another busy week in the office.  Tuesday, Gina and I will be in interviews and meetings most of the day.  Gina will be out on Wednesday and Friday.  Friday she will be at an Administrator's meeting at the Bethany and can be reached by text or email if needed.  I will be out on Thursday and Friday and may not be available.  Gina is here for you all on Thursday and Barbara will be in the office on Friday for any student issues which may come up.  

I am leaving for New York on Thursday for a wedding and will not be sending a blog next week.  There is a day of prayer in the parish on Saturday, Sept. 11, that you may be interested in attending (see the church website for details).  Those attending the day of prayer will have access to classrooms in Angel's Wing, the Media Center, Meeting Room, and Music and Art rooms for silent prayer.  I will be spending the day in Manhattan with Prince and my two sons and will pray each time I hear the bells ring for each of the planes that went down that day.  

Finally, next weekend is Holy Card Weekend.  Students who wear their uniforms to Mass will receive a holy card.  They can show their card to their teacher on Monday, Sept. 13, and have a free dress day.  

Have an awesome two weeks!