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

This Friday, February 10, we will dismiss all students at 12:00 noon for professional development time for the faculty and staff. Child care is available for the remainder of the day through our extended day program, if you contact Christina Lenon, our Enrichment Director, to reserve a spot. She can be reached at clenon@speds.org. The faculty will be observing at other public and private schools in our areas that afternoon to share ideas.

Please note: this carpool takes longer because ALL students (except those in after-care) will be dismissed. Please be patient with us and do not walk across carpool lines as this slows the carpool and increases the safety concerns. Your cooperation is appreciated. If you do not want to wait, coming around 12:20 is a good idea!

St. Paul’s math team placed third in the Missouri Western Chapter Mathcounts contest on Saturday. Team members include Clayton F., Max S., Jacob K., and Philip W. Clayton placed tenth overall and participated in the Countdown Round. Max, Caroline M., and Jacob also finished in the top twenty as individuals. Later this week we will know if our team will advance to state competition. Congratulations to these participants and their sponsor, Mrs. McMullen!

Our Fifth Grade Music Program, under the direction of our new music teacher, Mrs. Fatu, will be this Thursday evening at 7:00 in the north MPR. Mrs. Fatu and the children have worked hard in the six weeks that she has been here to pull together a program that they are enjoying and proud to present. Come watch!

We are hosting a blood drive for the Community Blood Center this Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 3:00 – 7:00. Your participation is encouraged as this life-saving gift is so needed in our community. If, like me, you have a conflict with that evening, donate at the Blood Center across the street on Tuesday or Thursday evening and let the center know that you’re doing it in conjunction with our drive. We’re not making any money on it, of course – we just want our neighbors to know that we’re supporting them in this important endeavor.

Parents’ Guild meets this Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in the Garden Room of the church. Please know that you are welcome to join these meetings to see what these great volunteers do for our school and, if you’d like, to sign up to help!

Thank you again to Krista and Dave Peterson, who opened their home for the Kick-off Party on January 28^th, and to Scott and Mandy Burditt and Peter and Ann Long for their tireless efforts in planning a wonderful party that was a financial success for the auction. We also thank their “team” of hosts for providing delicious appetizers and desserts, as well as providing underwriting for the auction. And of course, thanks to the judges of the various games and tournaments – Catherine and Eric Shurtleff, James Richman and Missy Haskamp. If you did not get a chance to donate at the party, and wish to do so, click here https://stpeds.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/GameOn2012Auction/AuctionUnderwriting/tabid/337898/Default.aspx to donate online. You may also send checks to Katie Gregg at school.

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 the like that would like to thank a special coach or leader. Click here

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

or contact Gina Penner, at ginaandcharlie@aol.com for more details. The deadline for reserving an ad, with your payment, is March 2, 2012.

Benefit Games Get your team together and sign up for Randy Kurt’s 2^nd Annual Benefit Games today! The Games will be held on Friday night, March 2nd and Saturday, March 3rd in the St. Paul’s gym. Don’t have a team? No sweat! Sign up as an individual, and you’ll be placed on a team for the sport you choose.

New this year: 4 on 4 dodgeball! Recruit your teammates for this fun, fast-paced Friday night showdown. Teams can have from 4 to 6 members and are either all men or all women. The cost per player is $50. Basketball returns this year with 5 on 5 full court games. The cost per player is $100. The registration deadline is February 24th. Click here to register. https://stpeds.ejoinme.org/?tabid=337672

And speaking of the auction, thanks to Campbell R. for leading the school so well last Wednesday! His parents purchased this opportunity at last year’s auction, along with treats for all of the faculty and staff. Campbell and his sister, Tatum, passed out the treats on Tuesday and Campbell led the dress code (pajamas), a tornado drill, carpools, class observations, reading to students, conducting the calendar meeting, and other activities on Wednesday. I took his math class responsibilities that day and thoroughly enjoyed being a student again!

Yoga in PJ's - Hatha for Haiti!

Zen Moms invite you to the first "Yoga in PJ's" event on Saturday, February 18th from 4:30-5:30pm benefitting our sister school in Haiti. All middle school students are welcome, along with a parent/guardian, to do a little good for Haiti while balancing your boogie in a partner yoga class led by Mrs. Z. Wear PJ's or comfortable stretching clothes to Yoga Fix Studio (2000 Shawnee Mission Parkway #100). Class Size is limited to 20 partner pairs. Sign up and send a check to SPEDS att: Chaplain Nolan.

Mark your calendars now for the Pancake Breakfast on Feb. 21st, from 7-8:30 a.m. This is our Shrove Tuesday tradition where eighth graders and their families serve breakfast at five dollars a person. The breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, and egg casserole, juice, coffee, and milk. Proceeds from the breakfast are used by the eighth graders in a gift to the school upon their graduation. Come join us for a feast before Lent begins!