Happy President's Day

Today is the day we honor all US presidents even though the federal government still calls it Washington's Birthday.  In 1879, Congress made Washington's Birthday a federal holiday.  In an effort to honor Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is also in February, the holiday became known as President's Day.  I actually think it was the retail industry who changed the name which is why most people call today President's Sales Day.  Whatever  you call today, take a moment to remember our past leaders and pray for our current and future ones.  

Thank you to our 7th grade class who did a super job with Stations of the Cross.  It was prayerful and moving and as I left I heard only good things from the adults who were there.  Confirmation was beautiful and Bishop Parkes was awesome as always.  Thank you Krista for being the photographer for the event. I hope some of you will have the opportunity to take part in the Parish Lenten Mission Monday - Wednesday evening from 7:00 - 8:15 p.m.

Enjoy the short week.  Please email your conference schedule to me by Wednesday so I can inform the office.  

From Dust You Came....

This Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent.  I share with you a brief excerpt from our Holy Father's message for Lent based on a verse from Matthew “Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold"  (Mt 24: 12).  Toward the end of the message, Pope Francis says, "Above all, I urge the members of the Church to take up the Lenten journey with enthusiasm, sustained by almsgiving, fasting and prayer. If, at times, the flame of charity seems to die in our own hearts, know that this is never the case in the heart of God! He constantly gives us a chance to begin loving anew."  My constant prayer is an end to iniquity and injustice in the world and that love will conquer all.  

This week has many things happening:

Monday - CPR class in the Media Center (no faculty meeting)

Tuesday - 1st and 4th grade are going to the State Fair

Wednesday - Ash Wednesday

Thursday - 5th grade is on a field trip celebrating Chinese New Year (I will be joining them).  Charles will be at TC at a meeting.  If you need anything comes up that can't wait, check with Julianne.  

Friday - End of the trimester, Fish Fry, and 7th grade Living Stations in the evening.  

Saturday - Confirmation 

Monday 2/19 - No School  

Tuesday 2/20 - grades due at 8 a.m.

You may have noticed a difference in you Jan. 30 paycheck.  New tax laws have changed how much federal tax is withdrawn and the Diocese used the new tables in that paycheck.  

Have a blessed week. 

Another Trimester is Nearing Its End

There are two weeks left in Trimester 2 and here is what you should NOT be doing... getting in last minute summatives because you only have 1 and you need 4, giving out projects like candy, trying to remember how a child has been behaving all trimester because you didn't keep records, etc. etc.  At the PTCO coffee last week one parent asked why their child had 4-5 projects due and some were worth 2 or more summative grades.  I had no answer.  All I could say is that 80-90% of project work is done at school so it really shouldn't matter how many a child has going on.  I also explained that projects are more authentic assessments of what a child knows.  I continued to say that it's possible that a project was being graded on two different rubrics for different things and she did say that was true - one project was grade on artwork and on research.  She wasn't sure about the other.  So here are just some friendly reminders.  Middle school teachers should be using the Google calendar to list all summatives and projects.  Two projects should not be due on the same day.  Even if most work is done here, there is still usually an at home piece.  Most summatives should only be worth one grade.  One exception might be a history project with an essay that was research in social studies with a product and an essay part that was done in language arts.  That could count as one summative grade in two different classes.  

Thursday is our PD at St. Pete Catholic.  Please try to carpool and I would recommend printing out the materials that were sent to us.  We do have school on Friday and next Sunday (2/11) is the second Sunday of the month.  Please remind students to wear their uniform and receive their holy card at Mass.  Next Wednesday is Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday.  Students may still were their Valentines/Red/Pink shirt and jeans.  I have a principal's meeting on Feb. 13 with Hillsborough schools.  If there is anything in particular you would like to know about from other schools let me know.  Enjoy the week! 

Happy Catholic Schools Week

Happy Catholic Schools Week!  First let me say Friday's Open House was a success.  Thanks to Nicki's hard work, the people coming through were not just window shoppers.  These were people serious about sending their children to St. Stephen and they all were excited after the tour.  One decided not to wait for next year and enrolled on the spot for this year.  We noticed that the majority of the people put down "church" as how they found out about us.  The saying is true... "if you build it they will come" and they came.  

This week we celebrate who we are - a Catholic school with students who are learning, serving, leading and succeeding.  Thank you to everyone who help plan this week and I'm looking forward to all the activities.  A special thank you to Jennifer for overseeing all the planning.  Be sure you are talking up the Walkathon and if you have a chance on Thursday, stop by the FLC to spend some time with 8th grade during Interfaith Day.  Friday is Professional Development in the afternoon from 12:30-3:30 and the topic is Differentiation.  

Have a Blessed Week! 

Busy weeks ahead

Patience will be needed as we navigate the next two weeks.  The front office will be a bit crazy as we manage getting everyone re-enrolled with our new RenWeb online registration.  For the most part it's going smoothly but there have been a few snags.  Charles will be out at a conference on Tuesday and Wednesday and I will be at FETC on Thursday.  Friday is Open House and then comes the start of Catholic Schools Week.  By the way... if you haven't seen the CSW t-shirt yet, it's AWESOME!  Please attend whatever Mass you normally attend next weekend.  You may want to switch if you have a student reading their essay at Mass and be there to support them.  Sunday, Jan. 28 is the Food Truck Rally.  I previously reported this to take place on Jan. 27, but at some point it changed to Sunday. 

Don't forget... tomorrow (Monday) is a grade level faculty meeting.  Please send minutes of your meeting to both Charles and me.  If you are meeting at a different time/date, that is fine, just send the meeting notes.  At this meeting you should be discussing possible retentions/remediations, curriculum questions - what do children need to know for the next grade?, plan for communicating conduct grades for trimester 2 report cards, and any grade level specific needs.  Also send names of students in danger of failing 2 or more classes to Charles so he can send out a letter.

And just in case you miss the cold...

Re-enrollment Time

If you didn't read Tidbits last week, it might be a good idea to look at it.  I wrote a letter regarding re-enrollment and it's good you know what is said in case parents ask questions.  This week, students will be receiving information regarding re-enrollment on Thursday.  Every family (oldest child) will have a folder on Thursday.  Please be sure they go home as it will explain how to re-enroll online.  After our current families have re-enrolled, Nicki and I will look at where there are possible spots in all the grades. We support Fr. Dermot's vision of having a parish school with filled classes, a waitlist, and families who are active participants in their faith.  We understand we must accommodate students who are already here, however, we cannot open up 2nd classes of a grade unless both classes are filled.  If their comes a point that our enrollment is stable and we have the resources to build onto the school, we can then look at expanding our number of classes.  

I will be with 7th and 8th grade Wednesday afternoon at Bell Shoals Baptist to hear the Holocaust speaker.  Charles is out on Thursday.  Friday is the final round of the Geography Bee (Jennifer will send out details) and Friday night is the Middle School Social.  Have a great short week!

Get ready to iReady

It may be cold in Florida, but thank goodness none of this!

I hope everyone had a good weekend.  Full week this week and then a 3 day weekend!  Monday's faculty meeting will be important.  Jennifer will be telling us all about Catholic Schools Week and what to expect.  Gina is out this week but most of her classes are filled with iReady testing. 

I don't have much else to share.  Please refer to last week's blog for activities in January.  Take good notes at the PD on Friday.  I will be at a Principal's meeting.  Keep your notes and the next time we meet for a faculty meeting be prepared to share one thing you took from the presentation and how you have implemented it in your classroom/lessons.

Have a good week!