Monday Morning Memo

What a delightful, well-attended Gift Gathering Party we all enjoyed at the lovely home of Marian and Joseph Tutera!  We sincerely want to thank the Tuteras for hosting a wonderful party on Saturday night to kick off the celebration of the 50 & Fabulous Auction gala!  About 150 guests enjoyed savory bites and beverages from Lon Lane’s Inspired Occasions while marveling at the playful birthday balloon creations amidst the Tutera’s magnificent home. Another big thank you to Ann Horton and Jenny Murphy for orchestrating a very fun “birthday” party, as well as to 26 host couples and all those who attended for getting the 50^th anniversary festivities off to a fabulously fun start!  Our auction chairs, Ann Long and Mandy Burditt, also deserve a lot of credit for the work they continue to do to make all of this happen for us!  If you weren’t able to attend but would like to donate to the auction, please contact Katie Gregg in the development department. 

Congratulations to our MathCounts Team members who placed third in their competition this weekend!  Three boys, Clayton F, Will P, and Zach T, scored in the top ten and will continue on to the state competition March 9 in Columbia! Our team consisted of these three boys and Caroline Mc.  Also participating as individuals were Drake R, Caroline S, Lilly H, Colin Mc, and Danny T.  We appreciate the fine representation of our school by these math scholars and their teacher/sponsors, Mrs. McMullen and Ms. Glass.

First grade students will present “Hooray for the USA”, their culminating presentation to showcase all they’ve learned about our great country, on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 9:15 a.m.  The show will be presented in the north wing multipurpose room and will educate and enlighten all of the audience.

Our prekindergarten students are ready to dazzle you with their talents and joy of performing!  Come see their music program on Friday, February 8 at 9:15 a.m. in the north wing multipurpose room. Mrs. Haskamp and these young children are sure to bring a smile to your face!

Re-enrollment contracts are due this Friday, February 8.  Please return your contract and deposit to hold your child’s position in next year’s class.  We look forward to continuing our work and play with you!

Coffees are being held this week at 8:30 a.m. in the Garden Room of the Church.

            ECC this morning

            Lower School on Tuesday, Feb. 5

            Middle School on Thursday, Feb. 7.

Please remember that the coffees are not the place to discuss personnel concerns and that, because there are many grade levels represented, issues that pertain to one class or grade should, as always, be taken to the teachers at that grade level and then the Division Head.  Teachers, Division Heads, and I are always willing to meet with you about your concerns and we sincerely appreciate those of you who come in to share with us your insight in this way.  I cannot overemphasize how much our teachers and we want you to talk first to the teachers about your specific views on their class or grade level.

NEEDED after school on Tuesday, February 12, eight more families to drop off our cups of 50 birthday kisses to surrounding businesses.  This is such an easy, feel-good opportunity for your family.  We’ll deliver to your student’s classroom a bag of five cups with kisses, tagged and ready to deliver.  You’ll drive each of them to a different business, walk it in, smile in an ever-charming St. Paul’s fashion, leave your cup of good will and be on your way.  Please help us!  I promise that you will be a blessing – and you will be blessed!  To sign up, please e-mail Chaplain Nolan:  pbauer@speds.org

Please don’t forget that you should be receiving your monthly St. Paul’s statements electronically, at the email address listed in the directory. We made this transition in June 2012, along with adding online payment options, for the convenience of our families. Paper statements are no longer being mailed, which allows St. Paul’s to save trees, printing, and postage costs. The move to e-statements has proven very successful, but if for some reason you are not receiving your statements, please contact Christina Cutcliffe at ccutcliffe@speds.org.

The Sixth Grade Showcase was a tremendous success, thanks to our talented Mrs. Everly and her energetic, creative students!  A good time was had by all – with much laughter and great appreciation for all the work involved and the joy produced!

Monday Morning Memo

MONDAY MORNING MEMO
January 28, 2013

What a glorious celebration of our first fifty years we enjoyed on Friday!  It was cheerful, colorful, full of surprises, and well-attended by friends and family.  There were so many people who made it this special that I am sure to overlook someone in this list but I have to be sure to thank: 

1.  Jill Watt, Chair of the Fiftieth Anniversary Celebrations for – 

• All the sporting mascots and Chiefs cheerleaders 
• The mounted patrol
•  The noisemakers for each child 
• The Mardi Gras beads for everyone 
• The volunteer pool of parents, students and graduates 
• And a hundred different ideas to make it such fun! 

2.  Jane Pennington, Development Director and another member of the Steering Committee for –

• Designing and creating the large puppets of the five Heads and five Rectors who have led our school and church in the last 50 years 
• The press releases that brought our media friends 
• And work on all of the details of the event 

3.      Pam Bauer Nolan for a fitting chapel service that featured –

• Kindergarten singers 
• Second grade singers 
• Former teachers, Mrs. Hendricks and Mrs. Linn and current teacher, Mr. Kurt, to share their histories at the school 
• And, of course, our chapel leadership team

4.      Mrs. Haskamp for writing lyrics to “Hey Look Me Over” for our 50th anniversary and teaching kindergarten through second graders to sing it

5.      Mrs. Graham for providing the birthday cake that each student, faculty, and staff member enjoyed at lunch

6.      The Tomasics for additional security in such a majestic fashion – horse patrols!

7.      The many middle school students who truly led our parade with the grade level banners and large-scale puppets

8.      Mr. Raney, our bagpiper, and Mr. Ronan, our drum teacher who provided the instruments, and taught and assisted student drummers Reece J, Gibbs M, Luke W, and Andrew B

9.      Our hardworking maintenance crew of Larry Maddox and Terry Hayes, plus Carlos Pantoja who helps with special events

10.  All of the parents who volunteered in so many ways, who came and cheered, and ensured a lively fun experience for all of us.

If you had to miss it, you can see 185 pictures at https://mingle.kansascity.com under “community faces” taken by a professional photographer who joined us for the event.  Thank you, thank you, ALL for a great start to our birthday!

We will dismiss at noon today for professional development.  To continue the excitement we started generating last week, Pat Bassett, Executive Director of the National Association of Independent Schools, will be here to address faculty, trustees and heads of area independent schools and we’re hosting this event!  Extended day is available for families who would like to take advantage of this service by contacting Karen McDonald, Director of Enrichment Programs, at kmcdonald@speds.org or calling 268-6536.

Our sixth grade students will be presenting their showcase to parents and friends this Thursday evening in the south wing multipurpose room at 7:00 p.m.  Mrs. Everly and the students have been and will be working overtime to perform for you so we hope you’ll come enjoy the fruits of their labor!

Forty-two seventh and eighth grade students met this weekend at Kearney for our third preliminary Science Olympiad tournament.  They all worked together as an outstanding team to take second place overall in the tournament.

Seventh graders Ben S., Ella L., Jonah W., Jensen P., Daisy B., Layne S., Roy W., Anna Louise S., Oliver C., Max M., Adam K., Natalie K., Catherine H., Caroline S., Zach T., Grace C., John R., Will P., Caroline R., Sydney H. , Carol Ann G., Faith O., Zach J., Sean W., and Connor T.  along with the leadership of our eighth graders, Lilly L., Monty L., Claire M., Meg B., Ashley B., A’starr M., Elyse C., Meghan L., Cora M., Drake R., Lilly H., Clayton F., Taylor N., Annie S., William L., Sydney W.  and Danny T. were fun and fabulous to spend the day with.

The students' behavior, willingness to work hard, individual responsibility and determination were all outstanding.

Individual winners were:
Drake R. and Roy W. 4th in Road Scholar, Drake R. and Lily L. 5th in Shock Value, Zach J. and Roy W.  2nd in  Dynamic  Planet,  Caroline R. 2nd in Heredity, Carol Ann Gibbs and Caroline Rooney 3rd in Sound of Music , Caroline R. and Natalie K. 4th in Write it Do it, Natalie K. and Caroline S. 2nd in metric Mastery, A’Starr M. and Sydney W. 1st in Anatomy, Meghan Long 2nd in Crime Busters, 3rd in Water Quality ,  and 2rd in Disease Detectives, Claire M. 5th  in Meteorology and 5th in Keep the Heat,  Ella L. and Catherine H. 2nd in Reach for the Stars, Connor T. and Zach T. 2nd  in Experimental Design, Elyse C. 1st in Food Science, Layne S.  and Sydney H. 3rd in Mission Possible.

Congratulations to all of these students and to the St. Paul’s community for their excellent representation! As always, thanks to our Science Olympiad sponsors, Lee Gruss and Ken Stewart, for all the work they do getting the students prepared and cheering them on.

Coffees will be held next week, beginning with the ECC Coffee on Monday, Feb. 4.  Each will be held in the Garden Room of the church, beginning at 8:30 a.m.  Please remember that the coffees are not the place to discuss personnel concerns and that, because there are many grade levels represented, issues that pertain to one class or grade should, as always, be taken to the teachers at that grade level and then the Division Head.  Teachers, Division Heads, and I are always willing to meet with you about your concerns and we sincerely appreciate those of you who come in to share with us your insight in this way.  I cannot overemphasize how much our teachers and we want you to talk first to the teachers about your specific views on their class or grade level.
           Lower School Coffee – Tuesday, Feb. 5
           Middle School Coffee – Wednesday, Feb. 6.

February Service Club Activities:  Calling ALL interested k-8th grade students/parents for two Service Club Opportunities that are in honor of St. Paul’s 50th Birthday!  The purpose of these activities is to distribute St. Paul’s cups loaded with 50 kisses to 50 area businesses.
Activity one:  Cup Assembly:  3:30 – 4:30 pm, Tuesday, February 5:  Kindergarten through 8th grade students will gather in the  North MPR, aka: the lunchroom.  There we will put the kisses into the 50 ST. Paul’s cups and attach a note to each one. Kindergarten through 5th graders are required to have a parent or adult with them.  Middle Schoolers may enroll without an adult.
Activity two: Cup Delivery: We need ten drivers at 3:30 pm  on Tuesday, February 12 to deliver five cups each.  Volunteer drivers will  go to five area business to deliver a cup of kisses. This would be a great (and fun) activity for a parent and children.

To enroll, please e-mail Pam at pbauer@speds.org.  Indicate whether you are enrolling for “cup assembly” or “cup delivery” or BOTH!  Thanks so much.

Monday Morning Memo

The directories are in and will come home today with your youngest child!  We apologize for the delay in getting these out but we are still getting changes which, unfortunately, cannot be included now!  Look for your directory (one per family) tonight.

Jeff Chadiha, an ESPN analyst and commentator, spoke to the middle school last Wednesday.  His comments addressed ethics in sports journalism, his work in sports reporting and the importance of setting goals.  Thanks to Carrie Larson for bringing him to share his wisdom and expertise.

Our first two Parent Coffees will be held this week in the Garden Room of the church at 8:30.

            Middle School on Tuesday, Oct. 2^nd

            Early Childhood (toddler – kindergarten) on Thursday, Oct. 4^th

We hope you’ll join us to share your observations about your child’s experience so far this year, ask questions, express concerns, give kudos, etc.

            The Lower School Coffee will be on Thursday, Oct. 11.

On Tuesday, October 2nd at 7:00 pm in the Multipurpose Room, St. Paul's Episcopal Church with Rainy Day Books is presenting Ayad Akhtar, playwright, actor and author to discuss his novel, American Dervish -- a compelling coming of age story set in the 1980s.  Akhtar's novel adds to a classic American storyline the complexities of ethnic, cultural, and religious dimensions that are a growing part of the American landscape.  Father Stan will take part in this discussion of diversity in America.  This is a ticketed event.  You can contact Father Stan at srunnels@stpaulskcmo.org for tickets or Rainy Day Books or get them at the door.  A purchase of one book will get you two tickets.  Come meet the author on October 2nd and buy your book.   20% of the proceeds of the sale of books from this event will go to the school library! "

Please mark your calendar for the St. Paul's Parent Book Club!  Parents’ Guild will be hosting the discussion of  American Dervish.  That meeting will take place on Thursday, November 15th at 8:30 am in the Garden Room of the Church.

The Parents’ Guild is hosting a reception for Father Todd Bruce on Wednesday morning after ECC chapel in the north wing multipurpose room.  If you’d like to thank him for his ministry to our children and faculty, please come join us.

Reminder:  Next Monday, Oct. 8, there will be a noon dismissal for ALL students so teachers can work on professional development activities.  If you need/want care for your child for that afternoon, please contact Karen McDonald at kmcdonald@speds.org now to reserve a spot.  

The Buddy Run is less than two weeks away!  Please register your children!  To register click here:  https://stpeds.ejoinme.org/?tabid=387225.  All registered children are entered in a raffle to be the Master of Ceremonies for the Day of the race.  This Friday we will have a Pep Rally to get the kids excited for the race. Students can begin getting sponsors for the race.  The child who has the most sponsors will win a chance to be Head of School!  The class with the most sponsors will win a breakfast with Jimmy Neilsen of Sporting KC!!  Sponsorship forms are available online here:  http://www.speds.org/current-parents-and-students/parents_guild/buddy-run/.   All students will receive a Buddy Run t-shirt!

Last year our participation in the HyVee Smart Points Program garnered us a whiteboard for the first grade classroom and an iPad for Langston Browne!  If you would like to do so, you have a chance to participate again this year.  For every $20 of Procter & Gamble products you purchase at Hy-Vee from September 1, 2012 through November 30, 2012, you earn 100 SMART Points to donate to the school of your choice. Find the promotional codes printed on your receipt of purchase, and enter it by clicking on the "Donate" button. From there, select the school for which you would like to make a donation.  More than 200 schools with the most points will win! Plus, this year the participants with the most points earned from each winning school will win an iPad 2 for a child at the winning school. If you would like to participate, the link to the program is:

http://hy-veesmartpoints.com/home/point_leaders.php.  The link to the P&G brand products is:

http://www.pg.com/en_US/brands/all_brands.shtml.  Thanks, once again, to Dominga Levin for bringing this program to our attention.

The Rev. Daniel R. Heischman, D.D., Executive Director of the National Association of Episcopal Schools writes a message each week for us to share.  I have shared these with the faculty and the message from last week was one we felt was applicable to parents as well as educators so we offer it here for you.

Changing Our Minds and Hearts

There is a famous story told about Mahatma Gandhi. Once he was accused by an angry opponent of having no integrity, as what he said one week was contrary to what he had said the previous week. Gandhi, unperturbed by this accusation, told his opponent that he was correct about the discrepancy, but said it was due to the fact that, “I have learned something since last week.”

A poignant example, to be sure, of what we educators so believe: learning has the power to change people. We may go from asking a question to finding an answer, or being one week certain of the answer and finding ourselves the next week asking questions about that answer. As the world opens up to us, through education, and we come face to face with ideas we had never encountered or considered, we can experience the deep blessing of transformation. I dare say that one of the reasons most of us have committed ourselves to being in Episcopal schools is that we have undergone such an experience of transformation through our own years of formal education. We know what new worlds are to be found through that process, and we yearn to provide the opportunity to help our students experience just that.

Increasingly I am concerned about how that message of change, be it in our minds or hearts (or both!), is verboten in our culture. Polls are telling us that the electorate in our country has already made up its mind in a way never seen before; to be “undecided” is to be in a tiny minority, and positions have hardened to such a degree that change is seen as a weakness. Likewise, we seem more to use the wonders of technology to reinforce our existing beliefs than expand or adjust them, let alone respectfully hear what the other side may have to say. Sociologist Tim Clydesdale tells us that college students are showing increasing tendencies to put their convictions and values in a “lockbox” as they head off to college, leaving them immune to change as opposed to allowing time to reflect on who they are and what they believe.

Few things are more important in our respective mission statements than our hope to produce young people who have conviction, who are willing to take a stand, and who feel passionate about how they view the world. But do we allow for the opportunity to change, to feel differently about something as a result of an idea just encountered, a perspective never before considered, as was the case with Gandhi? For a culture increasingly polarized and fixed upon a rush to judgment about the opposing view, a change of mind and heart may be increasingly unwelcome. To that culture we have a message that needs to be loud and clear: Episcopal schools hold out the potential that people can indeed change as a result of their education.

Monday Morning Memo

Congratulations to our Science Olympiad Team that placed SECOND in Regionals this weekend and is headed to State! Ms. Twyman and Mr. Stewart were so proud of the students for their focus, efforts and teamwork. Now they have about seven weeks to prepare for the competition in Columbia on April 14. Here is Ms. Twyman’s account of the results:

"A first place medal was won by Max S. and Samantha H. in Road Scholar. Second place medals were won by Ellison R. and Sophie P. in Compute This, Ellison R. and Meghan L. in Dynamic Planet, Claire McC. and Lilly L. in Keep the Heat, Elyse C. and Lily W. in Microbe Mission and Tucker B. in Mousetrap Vehicle.

Third place medals were won by Veronica L. and Ellison R. in Anatomy, Veronica L. and Kit F. in Awesome Aquifers, Philip W. and Meghan L. in Crime Busters, Philip W. and Elyse C. in Food Science, Samantha H. and Lily W. in Forestry, Max S. and Chris M. in Reach for the Stars and Max S. and Samantha H. in Rocks & Minerals. Fourth place ribbons were won by Meghan L. in Bottle Rockets, Philip W. and Lilly L. in Disease Detectives and Veronica L., Sophie P. and Ellison R. in Experimental Design. Fifth place ribbons were won by Chris M. and Max S. in Mission Possible and Elyse C. and Meghan L. in Water Quality. Elliot P. built a Tower that held the required load. Alternate team members George R. and Drake R. won a third place medal in the trial event Endangered Species.

It was a suspenseful, exciting and fun-filled Saturday. Once again, we thank our wonderful parents for healthy heaps of snacks and delicious sub sandwiches for lunch. Congratulations to all of these science scholars.” Well done, Students, Teachers, and Parent Helpers!

Our students do ROCK! Last week our eighth graders and their parents provided a pancake breakfast for us that was outstanding! The students were attentive servers and the parents were excellent chefs. Thank you to all of you who supported this effort. Then on Thursday, our sixth graders taught us some of what they learned in their unit on Africa. They did skits, told stories, taught us numbers in two African languages, and sang, while also showing off their art work and clever costumes. Well done, Students and Mr. van, and thanks again to those who came to be the appreciative audience for all their hard work.

This week the first two of our three spring coffees are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. in the Garden Room of the church building:

The Lower School Coffee will be Tuesday, Feb. 28

The Middle School Coffee will be Wednesday, Feb. 29

Our ECC coffee will be on Thursday, Mar. 8 at the same time and place. We hope you’ll join us.

Our Extreme Spirit Challenge of 2012 continues: Fun, service projects and pantry donations are our themes for a full week of spirit. Can you give us a HIGH FIVE for the FIVE spirited opportunities?

1. SPIRITED SERVICE: Every day this week students are invited to bring items for the food pantry. Please consider being generous. This is our big push for the spring season and the Pantry counts on our support. As always, canned meat, peanut butter, toiletry items, and mac and cheese are all needed – but virtually everything is welcome.

2. SPIRITED SERVICE 2: On Tuesday, February 28, please join us at Harvesters from 4:00-5:30 pm. No telling what we’ll be asked to do. We’ve packed canned food, produce, backpack snacks and washed eggs. It’s always fun! We need some more bodies, so please consider signing up. Students and parents need to have had a snack before you arrive because we’ll be working hard. To register, please e-mail: pbauer@speds.org.

3. SPIRITED WEAR Tuesday: Also on Tuesday, February 28: Students are encouraged to wear the logo-wear of their favorite sports team. But remember, to wear the colors it costs you one item for the pantry.

4. SPIRITED WEAR Thursday: On Thursday, March 1, we’ll be hosting “western wear” day. Students are invited to don their jeans, boots and cowboy/girl hats. But partner…you must pack a pantry item to wear the gear!

5. SPIRITED WEAR Friday: Our week’s big finish features St. Paul’s logo-wear. And you bet…bring another pantry item.

On April 14th, it will be GAME ON here at school! We’ll have some great offerings in both a live and silent auction format. Additionally, we’ll have several opportunities to sign up for parties geared toward families, children and parents, alike. Here is a taste of one of the parties and one of the live auction offerings:

Fun-tastic Family Flick

This party’s for the whole family! Auction Co-Chairs Amy Holewinski and Sarah Telford deserve an Oscar for this - they are hosting an outdoor family movie night in early summer - so mark your calendars for Sunday, June 3, 2012. We’ll roll out the red carpet at 7 pm, and the movie “Bedtime Stories” will start at 8 pm - a private screening for St. Paul’s families in the Holewinskis’ backyard theater. To complete this cinematic celebration, moviegoers will be treated to popcorn from an old-fashioned popcorn machine, movie treats and beverages (for kids and their parents). Tickets are only $50 per family (best to sign up now, as there is space for only 30 families). Let's all go to the movies! Click here to register online: https://stpeds.ejoinme.org/?tabid=336181

Sporting Kansas City Soccer Experience: Watch it, Play it, Live it!

This package starts with a 90-minute soccer clinic for six kids (ages 7 and up) led by Coach Kerry Zavagnin and St. Paul’s celebrity dad, Goalie Jimmy Nielsen, at the Sporting KC training facility. The kids will have a chance to watch the pros practice, then receive their own “pro-level” training session. After all that hard work, your kids will enjoy a picnic lunch provided by our own Mrs. Z and Mrs. Nielsen. But what’s the point of all that practice? The game! You will also receive eight front-row owners’ tickets to a Sporting KC game (generously donated by Liz and Greg Maday) so that you can enjoy a game in style, either with your budding soccer stars or with other adult soccer fans. GOAL!!

Donate Now – Deadline is Approaching!

Thank you to all that have donated cash and in-kind items for the auction. If you have not done so, and wish to make a financial contribution, click here to donate online. You may also send checks to Katie Gregg at school, or contact Blythe Robertson at scott.blythe@att.net if you would like to donate an item for the silent auction. The deadline for recognition in the auction catalog is THIS Friday, March 2^nd.

https://stpeds.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/GameOn2012Auction/AuctionUnderwriting/tabid/337898/Default.aspx

Family, Student and Faculty Catalog Advertising

The auction committee is offering special rates to families and groups that would like to advertise in the auction catalog. These ads are especially nice for sports teams, scout troops and classes that would like to thank a special coach, leader or teacher. Click here or contact Gina Penner, at ginaandcharlie@aol.com for more details. The deadline for reserving an ad, with your payment, is THIS FRIDAY!!

http://www.speds.org/current-parents-and-students/parents_guild/auction/catalog-advertising/

Raffle Tickets

The raffle items are amazing this year – a trip for two to Chicago (Cubs and Bears and Bulls, Oh My!), a catered party by Connie Mendolia (Tailgating in your Own Home), a David Yurman Pave Diamond Infinity Necklace (Sport the Bling), and a fee-free year at St. Paul’s (Score!). Tickets are $25 each, or five for $100, and can be purchased online here, or at either front desk.

https://stpeds.ejoinme.org/?tabid=336042

Benefit Games

Attention Sports Fans! Come to the St. Paul’s gym on Saturday to see our very own parents competing in fast-paced dodgeball and basketball tournaments. The fun gets underway at 9:00 a.m., and will culminate in the men’s final at 3:00 p.m. GAME ON!

The weekend of Feb. 17, Reece J. participated in the Missouri All-Comers Indoor Track and Field Competition held at the University of Missouri. He was the youngest participant in the Mile and 3000 meter races. In the pre-high school division, Reece placed 4^th in the mile with a time of 5:43, besting his previous indoor mile by 19 seconds. In the 3000 m, Reece placed 2^nd, posting 11:07, just 17 seconds off his best outdoor mark of 10:50. Congratulations to this dedicated, talented track competitor!

Stay up to date on the latest happenings with our school calendar. Bookmark the calendar page on our website and check back often to see what is going on at St. Paul's

Monday Morning Memo

MONDAY MORNING MEMO

October 3, 2011

Our coffees will take the form of brown bag lunches this fall! We offer parents the opportunity to come talk to me and the division head for the level in which your child is working this year about the issues that are on your mind. We have had coffees in the past but thought we would try a lunch time to see if other people could join us. Bring your lunch, if you’d like, and come chat with us about your child’s (and YOUR) experience to date. All meetings will be in the church’s Garden Room at 11:30 a.m.:

Tuesday, Oct. 4 -- Lower School (grades 1 – 5)

Wednesday, Oct. 5 – Middle School (grades 6 – 8)

Thursday, Oct. 6 – Early Childhood (toddlers through kindergarten).

This Friday, weather permitting, is our Pet Blessing chapel on the upper field at 8:30 a.m. Because we have so many families with pets, only students in grades K - 2 are to bring, with the assistance of their parents who can take them back home again after the service, their live pets. Children in ECC are encouraged to bring stuffed animals and those in grades 3 - 8 are asked to remember their pets in their hearts or to bring pictures of them. Dog owners are asked to bring bags to pick up any excrement, as our PE classes will meet on that field soon after the service. Thanks and come enjoy the happy chaos of this special tradition.

The School Directory & Policies and Procedures Handbook will be delivered home in backpacks this Friday. We have also added it to the secure portion of the website under the Current Parent and Students section. We hope you enjoy this new feature. Here are the links:

• Directory (this information is located in the password-protected section of our website. Your login information was provided in the August mailing. Please email rschubert@speds.org if you need assistance.)

• Policies and Procedures

In describing our community’s involvement in the opening of the Kauffman Center, I failed to recognize another of our parents who was and will continue to be involved there! Kathy Berry whose daughter, Jackie, is in 4th grade, is the associate principal in the 2nd violin section with the Kansas City Symphony and participated in a number of events and performances throughout the weekend. I apologize for not including her in last week’s mention of our celebration of St. Paul’s performers. Please let me know if I have omitted anyone else.

Individual pictures went home on Thursday! If you have questions, please go to Shirley Laird’s blog (http://spedslaird.blogspot.com/). If your child missed picture day or you want a retake - please email Ms. Laird at (slaird@speds.org ) to confirm. If your child’s pictures were preordered, you must return the first set of pictures in order to get them taken again.

Dealing with Death and Loss: From 7:00 – 8:30 pm, Tuesday, October 4, Chaplain Claudia Hubbard from Children’s Mercy Hospital will act as facilitator for this ninety-minute parents-only session dealing with death and loss from our children’s perspective. She will help us both understand and anticipate the cycle of grief. She will also respond to our own questions as well as questions our children have asked that we have struggled to answer. North MPR. Email registrations: pbauer@speds.org

Monthly Intercessory Prayer Chapel: Once per month, we will set up the church’s chapel for Intercessory Prayer. Anyone may drop in and sit and pray. The altar will be set up, candles will be lit and a sheet with written intercessory prayers will be available for individuals to use. People may submit names and requests to be added to the list. We’ll even place a picture of the person being prayed for if this seems appropriate. This is intended to be a lovely, quiet and personal time for anyone to pray on behalf of others. The chapel will be open for the entire school day from approximately 8:30 until 4:30 pm. Our next chapel will be Tuesday, October 25. Prayer requests should be sent to pbauer@speds.org

Buddy Run Sponsor Days start this week! Support the St Paul’s Buddy Run by shopping or eating at one of these venues on their designated day! Mention the St. Paul’s School Buddy Run on the day listed and a portion of your sale will be donated to St Paul’s School!

• Tuesday, October 4^{th --} STUFF - STUFF will open early (8:30am) for shopping! So, stop by after morning carpool!! 316 West 63rd Street in Brookside

• Friday, October 7 – Yogurtini 4853 Main Street

• Tuesday, October 11 -- California Pizza Kitchen - includes catering, carry out, dine-in or delivery! 4743 Pennsylvania on the Plaza or 11655 Ash Street in Town Center Plaza.*Click here for coupon flyer on Buddy Run webpage.

We spend valuable time and resources on our children’s education, athletics, intellectual and emotional development. The common denominator used to fuel all these activities is food. As we look at ways to improve and enhance the diets of our children , we encourage you to spend an evening learning how food directly impacts every part of your family’s lives. Please join us for a viewing of FOOD, INC on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 6:30 p.m in the North MPR. A panel discussion by community experts will follow the film.

Katie Hall, a 2011 graduate of St. Paul’s, is performing in the KC Repertory presentation of “August, Osage County”! This play is extremely well done and Katie is one of the stellar performers, but this is NOT a show for children. It is about a very dysfunctional and the language is not suitable for children -- but if you go, look for Katie! Her credits in the program are impressive too. Congratulations to Katie for winning such a role and handling it so well!