Monday Morning Memo

We hope that you enjoyed a lovely Easter weekend!

Christine Cowan, one of our fourth grade teachers, has decided to resign her position at the end of this school year.  Mrs. Cowan is looking for more work/life balance while her children are so young and will be seeking a part-time position for the near future.  We hate to lose her but do understand her priorities.

Johanna Russell has been selected for the part-time ECC Physical Education position.  Ms Russell has a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education.  She brings experience in teaching, and not just PE, from preschool through high school.  Mrs. Shurtleff will be teaching our first through fourth grade students next year and Mr. Kurt will continue his work with fifth through eighth graders.

Our In Harmony choir will perform at Crown Center and Bishop Spencer Place this afternoon!  They will demonstrate their enthusiasm for and talent in singing and will represent our school well.  Mrs. Everly is their teacher and Ms. Meli assists.

Parents of kindergarten students are invited to preview first grade on Tuesday morning, April 22 or Wednesday, April 23 from 9:00 – 10:00.  First grade students will be engaged in their regular morning work which we invite you to observe.  Teachers will not be able to converse with parents, because of their teaching responsibilities, but Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Abio will be available outside the classrooms to answer any questions you might have.  We recognize that the transition into a new division is not only a change for students but for our families too. As always, parents are also welcome to join us for chapel in the first floor commons that morning.

Tomorrow Night! Tuesday, April 22nd - Technology and Your Child for parents with students in ECC-3rd grade at  6:30pm.   Drs. Kevin and Natasha Burgert will address the challenges of parenting in the online space.  They will describe sites commonly used by our children, discuss health consequences that arise from unrestricted or unmonitored internet use and finally, suggest practical ways to guide and monitor your child's online life. (There will be another session for parents with students in 4th-8th grade on Tuesday, May 6th at 6:30pm.)

Parents of second grade students are invited to preview third grade on Wednesday, April 23 from 9:30 – 10:30.  Mrs. Jones will be in the commons area to answer any questions you might have.

World Culture Night, an evening of fun, facts, and food from around the world that is created and presented by our eighth graders, is this Thursday evening, April 24, from 4:30 – 6:00.  The students dress in costumes and prepare food representative of the country they have selected.  Be sure to ask them facts about their country, if you come to share the experience.  Our third floor classrooms and commons area are transformed for this international experience.  Mr. Stewart is their teacher.

The Fourth Grade Showcase is also this Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the north wing multipurpose room.  The students have worked hard to bring a program of music to their parents and guests that will be a fun, memorable experience.  Mrs. Everly will be directing the students.

Chapel services will be a little different this week in order to celebrate Easter Eucharist with our 3^rd through 8^th grade students.

·        Thursday, April 24^th – Toddler through second grade has a special chapel in the church sanctuary

·        Friday, April 25^th – Eucharist Chapel for 3^rd – 8^th grade students

·        Feed The Need – Friday, April 25^th – This is an opportunity for students to bring items for our food pantry.  Our younger students are welcome to bring their contributions on either Thursday or Friday.  Thank you for your support!

Community Learning Center Events are coming!  Please Join Us!

Monday, April 28^th - Sun Safety and Healthy Nutrition 4:30pm

Learn helpful information about how we can protect our children from the damaging effects of the sun and still be able to enjoy outdoor activities. AND Learn nutrition information and resources to help our students develop lifelong healthy eating habits. Head into summer armed with information and solutions for keeping ourselves and our children healthy and safe. 

Protective and attractive hats with the St. Paul’s logo will be on display for purchase.

RSVP with Linda van Thullenar at Lvan@speds.org.   Childcare available $15.

Did You Know?

• Up to 90% of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun.

• There is NO safe tan.  A tan is the skin’s response to injury caused by UV exposure.

• Skin Cancer accounts for approximately one half of all cancers in the US.

• 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. 

• Your risk of melanoma is greater if you have fair skin, blonde or red hair, and blue or green eyes

• Your risk of melanoma more than doubles after 5 sunburns in childhood.

• Many kids aren't hungry for breakfast because they snack at night

• Kids mimic their parent's behavior, so make it a habit to sit down and eat breakfast with your kids every morning.

• Want your family to have healthy hearts? Start with the family dinner table. Not only do most adults consume too much sodium, most kids do as well.

• When parents fail to plan weekly meals, it increases stress at the dinner time hour and inadvertently decreases variety.

• If the kitchen is open all day and night, your child will not understand that eating happens on a structure, with intervals between meals and snacks for other activities. Children learn to graze, overeat and lose the sense of appetite regulation.

• Having moderate exposure to sweets, for example, in the home allows your child to balance them in the real world. Don't make foods "off limits," rather have them as special treats for special occasions or manage them in a way that creates moderate exposure.

Dr. Amy Nopper and Dr. Margo Humenczuk are looking forward to sharing their knowledge with us on these important topics!

Congratulations to our eighth grade students who have been recognized with scholarship opportunities at the schools to which they were accepted!

Zachary T received an Ignatian Scholarship to Rockhurst High School for his 98 percentile score on the High School Placement Test (HSPT). Will P was also recognized by RHS for scoring a 99 percentile on the HSPT, but he has decided to attend Pembroke Hill.

St. Teresa’s Academy Alumnae Scholarship, awarded to students scoring in the 95-98 percentile on the HSPT, was give to:  Natalie K and Caroline S.        

Pembroke Hill awarded the following scholarships: 

Ella L: Raymond B. White Scholarship

Caroline S: Raymond B. White Scholarship

Will P: Headmaster's Scholarship

Roy W: Headmaster's Scholarship

The RB White Scholarships are awarded each year to two, new, incoming ninth grade students who achieved high scores on the admissions test, have exemplary academic records and have received excellent recommendations from their current teachers. These scholarships are renewable through graduation.  Our students received both of these awards!

The Headmaster's Scholarships are awarded to new students entering grades six through nine. These scholarships are awarded based on high levels of achievement on the admissions tests, strong academic records and excellent teacher recommendations. Some are renewable; others are for one year only.

REMINDER:  No lunches will be served on Friday, May 2^nd, as the cafeteria will be used for our final 50^th Anniversary Celebration – The Pillars of St. Paul’s Luncheon. 

Blood Drive:  The Community Blood Center will host a Blood Drive in the St. Paul’s Gym on Friday, May 16^th from noon – 4:30. May 16 is a St. Paul’s Spirit Day—show your giving spirit and register to donate today!   Anyone who registers to donate at our Blood Drive will receive a coupon for a “Buy One, Get One Admission Free” to Schlitterbahn Water Park.    Register for your donation appointment at www.savealifenow.org, enter Sponsor Code: stpauls.

Monday Morning Memo

There will be a large funeral this Friday for former parent, Bob Keatley, at 4:30 p.m.  In order to allow for the large number of people expected and to prevent those attending from being hampered by our carpool dismissal, we will be dismissing early this Friday – at 3:00 p.m. 

Stanford Achievement Tests will be administered on Monday through Thursday mornings this week to 3^rd – 7^th grade students.  Please do not come into the classrooms during testing time.  If you need to leave a message for your child, please leave it at the receptionist’s desk.  We hope all students who are feeling well enough to be at school will be here on time and ready to take the tests.

Southern Teachers Agency will be here today and tomorrow to conduct focus groups to determine the qualities the school seeks in its next Head of School.  We hope you have either signed up for a focus group or will complete the survey to assist in creating the profile for the next Head. 

Speaking of which, a number of you have begun to bid me farewell and I wanted to remind you that this is premature, as I will be here through the next school year – retiring at the end of June, 2014.  I know that it doesn’t seem possible that this much work would be happening now for that retirement date, but this is standard operating procedure for independent school Head searches.  Nothing has slowed down for me and I doubt that it will in the next 15 months!

Eighth graders will be hosting us for World Culture Night this Thursday from 4:30 – 6:30.  The students select a country with which to become more familiar, create a website with their information, dress in costumes of the country, and serve food represented of that part of the world.  It is a celebration for the whole family to enjoy!

If you will have a toddler, preschool, or pre-kindergarten child at St. Paul’s in 2013-2014 and are planning to register for either A-Team or Lunch Bunch, please don’t forget that registration for the 2013-2014 school year is online! Note that, as was the case this year, A-Team drop-ins are not available—you must pre-register your child by April 30. More information about both programs and the online form can be found here: http://www.speds.org/current-parents-and-students/inside-st-pauls/student-forms/. If you have questions about either program, please contact Linda van Thullenar, lvan@speds.org.

Middle school parents and students are reminded that this is mid-point in the quarter and a review of  student grades would be appropriate.  There are still several good weeks ahead during which students can make good progress, so let’s help the students stay on task.

It's time to order school supplies for next year!  You may pre-purchase a school supply pack for next fall.  The packets are ordered through Innisbrook School Supplies and are priced at the school’s cost.  Kindergarten – 8^th grade art supplies are included in the packets or you may order them separately using the order form in option 2.  This opportunity is offered as a convenience for St. Paul’s families.  Parents are free to choose the supply pack or shop on their own. Order dates:  Monday, April 15 – Friday, May 3.  There are two ways to place your order:

1)  Order online at www.ordermypack.com , select Buy School Supplies, and enter our school number: 120688.  Pay with a credit card at checkout.  A convenience charge of $1.50 per pack will be added to all online orders.

2)  Complete and return an order form to the school front desk.  Charges will be billed to your school account in August.  Click here to view lists and order supplies: http://www.speds.org/current-parents-and-students/inside-st-pauls/school-supplies/  If you are unable to print what you need, please contact Linda van Thullenar and she will send them to you.

All supply packets will be delivered directly to school and distributed to students at Open House on Wednesday, August 14^th.

Service Club Dates:  Calling all St. Paul’s students and parents.  We have two service opportunities for the remainder of the 2012-13 school  year.  This is a great opportunity to have fun, connect with others and participate in meaningful community service.

   Tuesday, April 23:  We will go to the St. Paul’s Food Pantry and work to re-package items.  Let’s gather at the church after school. Snacks will be provided and then we’ll get to work.  Students in ECC and Lower School are asked to have a parent. (Parents may chaperone their child plus a friend or two.)  Middle School students may come alone.  Please RSVP at pbauer@speds.org

    Tuesday, May 14:  3:30-5:00 TBA. But please save the date!

Lynnette Rempel has let us know that she will be taking a Sabbatical from St. Paul’s in order to devote more time to her family.  While St. Paul’s does not have a Sabbatical per se, this is our way of saying that we don’t want to say “good-bye” to Lynnette and she does not want to say “good-bye” to us.  The plan is that, in the near future, she will be able to return to bring her gifts and talents to our school but, right now, she needs to take a break. 

One of our graduates, Aaron B., is the star of the current production at The Coterie, “Bud, not Buddy”.  The production runs from April 9 – May 19 and this experienced actor, who is still in high school!, is making quite a name for himself as an actor/comedian.  We’re very proud of this talented young man!

We will be honoring Celeste Haas at Friday’s All School Chapel. Celeste is with the Childrens’ Spot and has worked with our students in Speech Therapy at St. Paul’s for 25 years. It has been a wonderful collaboration and we look forward to working together for many more years.