Dear Parents,
On Monday we gathered for an all-school assembly to promote good character during this school year. The eighth graders, with some help from fourth graders, introduced all of the character traits and the Bible verses that match the traits. (These traits and Bible verses will be featured in the student handbook.) Next Monday we will gather for another assembly to introduce the specific character trait for September---respect for others! Each month we will have an all-school assembly to introduce the new trait.
You will have opportunity to learn more about our character education efforts and other ways to help your children have a good school year at our Back-to-School Night next Thursday, Sept. 3. The evening will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the school gym and will finish by 8:30 p.m. However, unlike past years, this night will follow a different format. Both parents and children are invited to attend. In fact, children must be accompanied by a parent to attend! We will not have an opening introduction of teachers, but you will have an opportunity to meet your children’s teachers in their classrooms. In addition, booths and activities will be set up in the gym for parents and students to enjoy together. Look for the flyer being sent home today for more details. We hope you will mark your calendar to join us! (If any organization would like to be included in this night and has not been contacted, please call the school office.)
Today and Friday morning we welcome our preschool students in Mrs. Kienzler’s classes as well as their parents for an open house. Next week they will begin their school year at Blessed Sacrament!
This evening any students and parents interested in Boy Scouts are invited to attend a meeting from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in our school gym. It’s a great program so check it out!
Please remember that all of our students in K-8 will have dismissal at regular times beginning next week. However, next Tuesday, Sept. 1, is an 11:30 a.m. dismissal day for all students. That afternoon teachers will be attending a regional meeting planned by the Diocese. No B.A.S.E. will be provided on that day. Enjoy your weekend!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Kathy Wear
Please remember that car riders will be dismissed at 2:45 p.m. so the gates to the parking lot will be closed at least by that time. (You may want to try to arrive by 2:40 p.m.) Late arrivals will be allowed on the parking lot after the dismissal of the first shift of cars.
If you are late, we would prefer that you wait on the street until the cars are dismissed and then pull onto the parking lot. We will hold any students by the gym doors until their rides are able to enter the parking lot. If you choose to walk up to pick up your child and are parked across the street
on Glenwood, you must go to the corner of Glenwood and Laurel to reach your car.
We dismiss the walkers as close to 2:50 p.m. as possible. Students who will picked up by cars parked along the street (but not immediately adjacent to the school
grounds) will be dismissed with the walkers. We do ask that all students cross at the crosswalks and not in the middle of the street, even if they are with an adult, as children often follow the example of others.
Also, with the nice weather, many parents are meeting their children with their family dogs. Please remember to have your pets on a leash and have them close to you as not all students are comfortable around animals.
Thanks so much for your cooperation as we continue to do our best to make our dismissal as quick as possible but also as safe as possible for our students!
Arrival Reminders from Mrs. Senger
“Another year has begun, and we’re off to a great start! It is wonderful to see all of you again! I am working with the seventh graders as they are learning the responsibilities of the morning (and afternoon) patrols. We could use your help! In order to accommodate everyone quickly and safely, we are asking you to do a couple of things when you are dropping off your children.
· Pull all the way up to the farthest cone.
· Use both lanes on the parking lot.
· The children being dropped off in the south lane need to walk to a 7th grade patrol and wait until the patrols cross them.
· The patrols have been told to fill each lane before crossing these children. Please do not stop halfway and wave walkers across. This is considerate of you, but it causes a traffic jam and confuses the walkers.
· If you need to get out of your car to help your child, please park in the spots on the south side of the lot, next to the field.
Thank you for your help and your patience! With the addition of more families this year, these reminders should help speed up the arrival process while making sure everyone arrives safely. God bless!”
Crossing Guards Update
Although one crossing guard (corner of Walnut and Laurel) has returned through District 186, the arrival times of our students are not completely covered so we will continue to use our own staff as crossing guards.
Also, we have had a few volunteers who are trying to cover the corner of Ash and Glenwood for us. However, we are in need of more volunteers to help with that corner. If we have several who are willing to share that position, we could schedule volunteers on a rotating basis. It would also be a good way for parents to earn service hours. Please call the office at 522-7534 if you would be able to help.
Wrapping Paper Orders
Today all of our students attended an assembly to kick off the PSA fundraiser through Innisbrook. Students should be bringing home a packet for the sale of wrapping paper and other items today. Please also read the flyer being sent home today as the ordering procedure has changed. Parents are asked to enter their order online, and then they will receive a personal sales voucher to return to the school with paymernt for the orders. Sales vouchers and payment are are due on Tuesday, Sept. 15. (Please make checks payable to Blessed Sacrament PSA.) This is the largest fundraiser of the year for PSA, and they depend on your participation to be able to support the needs of the teachers and students throughout the school year. If you would rather make a cash donation, your generosity would be greatly appreciated.
Hot Lunches
Hot lunches start next week! Be sure to return your Monday (Subway) and Wednesday (pizza) order forms by tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 28, as no later orders can be accepted. (A revised order form was sent home for the Subway lunches due to errors on dates on the original form.) The Tuesday/Thursday hot lunches start next week on Thursday, Sept. 3, due to the early dismissal on Tuesday.
Sports News
Students who are participating in sports must have an updated physical once a year. Please turn in any sports physicals to the school office to the attention of Mrs. Davis.
Also, 5th and 6th grade girls’ basketball permission slips are due Friday, Aug. 28. Practices begin in September for these teams. An additional 6th grade coach may be needed if the same number of girls signs up to play as last year.
Our cross country co-op team with St. Agnes is off to a great start! Both the boys and the girls won the 5th-6th grade races and the 7th-8th grade races at Illini Central on Tuesday. Good luck to them at their meet in Clinton on Saturday!
The final open gym for 7th and 8th grade girls interested in basketball is this evening, Thursday, Aug. 27, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Official practices and tryouts begin on Monday, Aug. 31, in our gym. 7th graders will practice from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., and 8th graders will practice from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Scholastic Bowl News
Although the beginning of the Scholastic Bowl season is still a few months away, we know we will need an assistant Scholastic Bowl coach this year. If you are interested or would like to learn more about the position, please call the school at 522-7534 for more information.
Medications at School
The office staff may not distribute over-the-counter medication to any students. However, if your child has a doctor’s prescription for medication, the office may distribute the medication with a permission form on file. Permission forms were sent home to students who used medication last year. If you need a form, please call the office to have one sent home with your child. (We also need permission slips on file for any students needing to use a nebulizer for asthma.)
Looking Ahead
Thursday, Aug. 27 –
PreK open house for Tu/Th class – 8:30-10:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m. dismissal for kindergarten students and M-F preschool students only
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. – Meeting for parents in the gym about Boy Scouting
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Open gym for 7th & 8th grade girls interested in playing basketball
Friday, Aug. 28 –
PreK open house for M/W/F class – 8:30-10:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m. dismissal for kindergarten students and M-F preschool students only
Monday, Aug. 31 –
First day of preschool for M/W/F class
Monday Subway lunches begin!
Tuesday, Sept. 1 –
8:20 a.m. Mass for grades 2-5
First day of preschool for Tu/Th class
11:30 a.m. dismissal for all grades – faculty regional workshop; no B.A.S.E.
Wednesday, Sept. 2 –
Wednesday pizza lunches begin!
Thursday, Sept. 3 –
8:20 a.m. Mass for grades 6 – 8
Tuesday/Thursday hot lunches begin!
Parent Back-to-School Night for parents and students at 7:00 p.m. in the gym
Friday, Sept. 4 –
PSA Spirit Day - $1 donation; details to follow!
2:00 p.m. – First Friday adoration for grades 2 - 8
Monday, Sept. 7 –
No school in observance of Labor Day
Tuesday, Sept. 8 –
Organizational band meeting for parents and students at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Agnes cafeteria
Before School Patrols for the Week of Aug. 31 – Sept. 4:
Izzy Faber Gabe Green
Erick Ketchum Derek Miller
After School Patrols for the Week of Aug. 31 – Sept. 4:
Charlie Delano Anthony DiNello Ben Eck
Mass Servers for Aug. 29 & 30:
(only BSS students listed)
4:30 p.m. Saturday Emily Willard & Jeremy French
7:00 a.m. Sunday Ethan Bluhm & Dylan McPeek
8:30 a.m. Sunday Jack Broeker & Daniel Gardner
10:30 a.m. Sunday Adrienne Dodge
Averi & Kevin Gamble
Daily Servers for Aug. 31 – Sept. 4:
8:00 a.m. M & W Emily Willard &
& 8:20 a.m. Tu Clara Young
8:20 a.m. Th, & Ethan Bluhm &
8:00 a.m. Fri. Delanie Yates-Aldrich