October 22, 2009
Dear Parents,
Last Saturday our cross country teams had a very successful day at the state meet in Normal. Congratulations to both teams on their state team trophies! The girls finished second in state, and the boys finished third. Jon Bluhm earned all-state honors as an individual medal winner with a ninth place finish. We’re very proud of all of you! Thanks, again, to Josh Bluhm for his positive leadership, and congratulations to the entire cross country team on their great season!
This week our students have taken several field trips and had guest speakers. Yesterday our second graders toured the Illinois State Museum, and today a representative from the Henson-Robinson Zoo will be enhancing their learning about owls. Also, today our sixth graders are traveling to Bloomington to the Challenger Learning Center, and this week our M/W/F and Tu/Th preschoolers have been visiting the fire station. On Monday our eighth graders will be to SHG to hear a speaker about Rachel’s Challenge, a challenge to start a chain of kindness.
Yesterday also marked the end of the first quarter. Thanks to all who have already returned their parent-teacher conference forms. All forms are due by next Monday, Oct. 26. Forms will be returned to parents with report cards.
Next week we will be observing Red Ribbon Week as we continue to promote healthy living and good choices among our students. With our focus on respect for self this month, the observance of this prevention week fits perfectly with our character education. Several activities for the students have been planned for next week, and the themes and some of the activities for each day are listed in the Looking Ahead section of this newsletter.
Next Friday all the students will celebrate Halloween with a parade at 1:45 p.m. on the school parking lot followed by classroom parties. All students must arrive at school and leave from school in their uniforms, but students in grades K-4 will be allowed to change into costumes for the parade. All students will also be allowed to wear orange and black (or appropriate Halloween shirts) with jeans on Friday. Hair dye, face or body paint, and nail polish are not allowed. Students are asked to follow non-uniform guidelines, as listed in the student handbook. (Please remember that the uniform rules about makeup, jewelry, and shoes, including no boots, still apply on non-uniform days.) Students who do not follow the guidelines may not be allowed to participate in the next non-uniform day. We also ask that the costumes be appropriate for our school setting. Thanks for your cooperation!
Hope to see you at the Halloween carnival on Sunday! (See the flyer going home today for details.)
Sincerely,
Mrs. Kathy Wear
We have had a report of a student with the H1N1 virus. This child was at home but has returned to school after following the recommended guidelines. The teachers have been encouraging hand washing and providing hand sanitizer. The custodians are wiping off surfaces the children touch (like door knobs) regularly. Please have a talk with your children about the proper way to wash hands and to cough/sneeze into their elbows, not their hands. They should not share food or drinks or put items into their mouths. We have been receiving recommendations for this flu season from the Public Health agencies, and we are following their guidelines. We will continue to keep you informed. A fact sheet to help you know what to do personally is being sent home today.
To RSVP for the trivia night, please email tslz@comcast.net. (The email address is incorrectly listed on a Trivia Night flyer.)
New order forms for pizza lunches on Wednesdays are being sent home today. The orders are due back with payment by next Friday, Oct. 30. The eighth grade appreciates your support of this fundraiser.
We are out of our supply of BSS stocking caps. If you ordered one and we are not able to fill the order, your money will be returned to you.
Blessed Sacrament School is hosting the speech meet for the Catholic grade schools this year, so we are in need of judges. The meet is Saturday, Nov. 7, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Judging by our parents would count towards our family service hours requirement. College students through grandparents may judge. If you are interested in helping, please call Janice Davis at 522-7534, ext. 205.
Photos were sent home this week for those who placed orders through Lifetouch. If your child was absent the day photos were taken, the retake day has been set for Friday, Nov. 13. Picture envelopes are available in the school office and must be returned that day with payment to Lifetouch. Also, if you are not pleased with the first photo, you must return the original package with a note requesting a retake or a refund. Free retakes are not available for a change of clothing, glasses, or hair style. If you have any questions, please call the school office.
Friday Lunch: PSA will be serving nachos with cheese ($1.50 per order and an additional 50 cents for extra cheese) and popcorn (50 cents per bag) for lunch tomorrow.
Spirit Day T-Shirts/Hooded Sweatshirts: The order for these items is being placed today. They will be delivered to students as soon as they arrive.
Wrapping Paper: Our school’s order has been shipped from the company, and we anticipate delivery next week. You will be informed of the day that it will be sent home so that you can make pick-up arrangements for your children. Individual top seller prizes as well as classroom winners will be announced and awarded next week. Thanks to all who participated in the sale!
Board Meeting: Next PSA meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 5:30 p.m. in the rectory basement. All are welcome to attend!
Our students have been busy logging their miles in their collective efforts to run/walk across America. Congratulations to Patrick Rearden, a second grader, who is the first students to complete the Miles Across America goal of 15 miles to win a t-shirt. He went above and beyond the goal and has 18 miles, as of today. Together our students have reached Colorado on their journey east across America. Be sure and check on your child’s participation and progress!
Junior High Dances
The following dates have been set for the junior high dances for 7th and 8th graders in Catholic schools:
Nov. 13 – St. Joseph School
Dec. 18 – St. Aloysius School
Jan. 8 – Blessed Sacrament School
Feb. 26 – Christ the King School
Mar. 5 – St. Agnes School
Apr. 16 – Little Flower School
May 7 – SHG
All dances will be from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Individual schools will send out informational sheets with permission forms closer to the date of the actual dance. Although we do not anticipate any changes in the dates, you will be notified through this newsletter as soon as possible of any changes.
Our faculty and staff have been pleased with the addition of phones to their classrooms. It has made it easier to contact the office and other classrooms for appointments, illnesses, and any safety concerns and to receive messages from parents and return their calls. The phones are strictly for faculty use, and the students have been very good about respecting their use during the school day. Please remember that if a student or adult needs to use a phone after the school day, the person should first check with a school supervisor (a teacher, a B.A.S.E worker, a coach, or a supervising adult at an event) before using the phone. Thanks for your help!
Friday, Oct. 23-
Hearing and vision screening
Box tops due!
Sunday, Oct. 25 –
Builders Club Halloween Carnival in the school
Monday, Oct. 26 – Wednesday, Nov. 4 –
Scholastic Book Fair in the school library
Monday, Oct. 26 –
8th grade field trip to SHG for speaker
Parent/teacher conference forms due!
RRW: Shoot for the Stars – Stay Drug Free!
Students will decorate classroom doors with their goals listed on stars.
Tuesday, Oct. 27 –
RRW: Walk Against Drugs! Get together with family and friends for a walk in Washington Park.
Wednesday, Oct. 28 –
RRW: I Show Good Character by Being Drug Free! Look for random acts of kindness by our students.
Thursday, Oct. 29 –
RRW: Team Up Against Drugs! Classes will join for buddy activities.
Speech Preview Night for family and friends at 5:30 p.m. in rooms 16 & 17
Friday, Oct. 30 –
Report Card Day
RRW: Hocus Pocus! Drugs Aren’t My Focus! Students will celebrate being drug free with a black and orange day for Halloween.
Halloween parade at 1:45 p.m.; parties to follow
Sunday, Nov. 1 –
8th Grade Trivia Night for 7th & 8th graders
Tuesday, Nov. 3 –
8:20 a.m. all-school Mass
11:30 a.m. dismissal; no B.A.S.E.
Parent-teacher conferences – 1:00-8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 4 –
1:30 p.m. dismissal; no B.A.S.E.
Parent-teacher conferences – 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 6 –
PSA Spirit Day
2:00 p.m. benediction & adoration for grades 2-8
Before School Patrols for the Week of Oct. 26 -30:
Joe Moore Riley Murphy
Ethan O’Connor Wilson Reyhan
After School Patrols for the Week of Oct. 26 - 30:
Nic Farris Erick Hernandez
Regan Israel
Mass Servers for Oct. 24 & 25:
(only BSS students listed)
4:30 p.m. Saturday Davy & Elise Morehead
Cody Prosperini
7:00 a.m. Sunday Madeline Smith
8:30 a.m. Sunday Joel Henderson
Mallary Lemme
10:30 a.m. Sunday Emily Scheufele
Daily Servers for Nov. 2 - 6:
8:00 a.m. M & W Jeremy French &
& 8:20 a.m. Tu Tessie McDermott
8:20 a.m. Th, & Kevin Gamble &
8:00 a.m. Fri. Dylan McPeek