Dear Parents/Guardians,
As the month of January comes quickly and frigidly to a close, please join us in prayer and celebration of Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service. We will open Catholic Schools Week with a family Mass next Sunday, January 31st at 11:00 A.M., with a social to follow in the Ballad Room, with refreshments provided by the Home and School Association. Our Grade School Open House will be from 12:00 – 3:00 P.M. on Sunday! Please join us and invite your family and friends into our parish. A separate flyer with more detail was sent home this week and will most likely be resent next week. Try to join us for one of our many fun and traditional events during the week. You chose a Catholic School when there are several cheaper and even free options out there. Come get a nice reminder of why you sacrifice for your child’s education. See the smiling faces! Pray with us and share our Catholic faith at Mass! Feel the school spirit and energy at our Parents/Staff versus Student Volleyball game! (Don’t forget your donation of a canned good for admission). Be impressed by the students’ intelligence at our Knowledge Bowl. See the God-given talents at our always entertaining Talent Show!
This Tuesday, I spent the day observing the primary grades. I learned a lot while I moved throughout the classrooms.
Kindergarten was reviewing for a Math test with an interactive SMART Board activity. They were proud to show off their computation skills. I loved their Parable of the Barren Fig Tree artwork that was displayed on their front door.
I caught First Grade for a few minutes of Reading before heading off to lunch. They were working very diligently on their Reading skills. I had the pleasure of praying with them before lunch. They stood, pushed in their chairs, and prayed reverently at their desks. Some Catholic School traditions never change. I did that exact same thing in that very same class for First Grade many years ago. It was a nice flashback.
Second Grade has a new seating arrangement, where the children are seated in groups of 5. Ms. Mc Donald has started using centers again, and the children are responding. I observed a Reading lesson where the children were seated up by the SMART Board reviewing vocabulary words.
Third Grade was so excited to use their multiplication flash cards. I am not sure what Mrs. Waritz told them about flash cards, but they were certainly more excited than I was when I was in Third Grade. Maybe she doesn’t make them write the facts 20 times each like I had to do. Way to motivate children, Mrs. Waritz!
Fourth Grade was working in their English textbook on the writing section. They were talking about persuasive writing and how the topic being written about should have 2 opposing sides. Ms. Frederick reminded the students that they should be able to back up their side with facts as well as opinions. Then, I listened as they reviewed science definitions and discussed solutions and mixtures before lab work.
Fifth Grade is so busy on Tuesdays that I have to arrange a special time with Ms. Cripps for their observation! I did meet their student teacher. She is enjoying her time with them, as it comes to a close. She has learned a lot from Ms. Cripps and has been able to compare us to public schools. It is her first experience working in a Catholic school. She had many compliments to share about our students and said she was thankful for the opportunity to spend her time in our school.
Technology Note: Thanks to a recent personal donor, we will be purchasing an additional 30 iPads for our middle school. The iPads have become very popular with students and teachers alike. These additional iPads will be put to good use. I recently observed the 8th Grade students using them for research. Students worked on individual projects and were fully engaged. They did not even notice me entering the room. I had to interrupt them to ask what they were doing. We may have caught onto something!
School News
Open House – Our grade school Open House has been moved to January 31st from the original date of January 24th due to expected inclement weather. The Open House will begin 12:00 P.M. after our Catholic Schools Week opening Mass at 11:00 A.M. and will go until 3:00 P.M. Please spread the good news about our school. You are our best marketers in this time when Catholic school enrollment is declining across the nation. We hope to have a great turnout. Thank you in advance to our Student Council and our Home and School Board for helping give tours. Perspective parents always give excellent feedback about tours given by someone other than administration. Our parents and students share personal stories and the information that is often most valuable to a new family.
Cyber Snow Days– As we move through winter, we want to make sure all families are aware of the Cyber Snow Day policy. Any snow day declared by the Diocese of Wilmington is a Cyber Snow Day. (If Delaware declares a state of emergency, this is not a Cyber Snow Day.) Teachers will have work posted on their websites (please check individual teachers websites for this information) or may have sent work home in the event of possible inclement weather. Students will have 5 days to complete this work. This work makes up for the missed day of school.
St. Anthony’s School Spirit Night at the Delaware 87ers – Saturday, January 30th will be St. Anthony’s School Spirit Night at the Delaware 87ers game. The Antonians will be singing “God Bless America” and tickets will be available to all families for $9 per ticket. More information will be coming home as we get closer to the date. We hope to see many families there!
Catholic Schools Week – Catholic Schools Week runs from January 31st until February 6th. There will be different activities each day for students to participate in. A schedule of these events was sent home in Wednesday folders on January 20th. Below is an additional listing of the events.
- January 31st – Catholic Schools Week Opening Mass – 11:00 A.M.
- St. Anthony’s Open House – 12:00 – 3:00 P.M.
- February 1st – Teacher Appreciation Day
- February 2nd – Spirit Day – All students may wear their gym uniforms. There will be scheduled activities in the gym for each grade.
- February 3rd – Knowledge Bowl – School Gym – 1:30 P.M.
- All students may wear their gym uniforms.
- February 4th – Student Appreciation Day – Free dress down day for students.
- Morning Assembly – Students only – 9:30 A.M.
- Talent Show – School Gym – 1:30 P.M
- February 5th – 8th Grade Volleyball Game – Fournier Gym – 1:30 P.M.
- Student admission to the game is one canned good.
- Students may wear their gym uniforms.
AmazonSmile – Want to support St. Anthony of Padua with 2 mouse clicks and no cost to you? Visit smile.amazon.com and in the search box type “St. Anthony Church” and click Search. Then click on the Select button for the Church and you are done. A portion of eligible purchases will be donated to St. Anthony of Padua parish.
Home and School Association/YAC News
YAC Student Advisory Board – The YAC board is looking for a few students to participate on our Student Advisory Board. The Student Advisory Board will meet with the YAC board to provide feedback and ideas on youth activities, community service and athletics for our school. This board is open for students in 5th through 8th grade. Each student will submit one brief paragraph explaining their vision for the advisory board and why they would like to participate. Playing sports is not a prerequisite. Please include the students name and current grade. All entries must be submitted to the school office by 2/12/16.
Soft Pretzel Day — Wednesday, January 27th – Home and School is offering a mid-morning snack for all students from Philly Soft Pretzel Factory. Order forms went home this week. The cost is $1.00 per pretzel for a fresh, warm soft pretzel to be delivered to your student on Wednesday, January 27th for them to enjoy during their mid-morning snack. Don’t forget to get your orders in.
Glow in the Dark Middle School Dance — Saturday, February 6th – St. Anthony’s Home and School will be having a Glow in the Dark Middle School Dance (for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders only) in the school gym from 7:00 P.M.– 10:00 P.M. A DJ will be providing dance music. Cost is $10.00 per student. Flyers and the two permission slips required to attend will be going home shortly with the middle school students. Middle school students are allowed to bring a friend from another school. Please note, no child will be admitted without the TWO necessary permission slips and the admission fee. Let’s make this dance a great event that is well attended. Our Home and School Association was recently informed about a middle school student at All Saints Catholic School that has been diagnosed with cancer, so we decided that all the proceeds from this Middle School Dance will be donated to that child and their family. Wear your White or Neon and come out for a night of fun. SPREAD THE WORD!!
Grotto Pizza Night – Wednesday, February 10th – 4:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. – Pennsylvania Avenue Grotto Pizza. Come enjoy some food and fun at Grotto Pizza on Pennsylvania Avenue and a portion of what you spend will be donated back to St. Anthony’s Home and School. Look for the flyer with coupons to come home with the students soon. Please present the coupon when you dine in or take out on the 10th. As always thanks for your support.
Technology Beef and Beer – On March 12th, come join the Home and School Association in the Ballad Room for an evening of good food, good music, and good fun. Tickets are on sale until March 2nd for $25.00, from March 3rd – March 11th, they are $30.00. Please see any Home and School Board member for tickets.
Box Tops/Labels for Education collection and competition – Please send in your Box Tops and Labels for Education to your student’s class from now until February 19th. The class with the most collected will enjoy a Pajama Day and breakfast. The class that collects the second most will enjoy an ice cream treat at lunch. Please keep saving! Thank you for making this a great fundraiser for our school and our students. Good Luck to all the classes!
Parish News
Parish Monthly Social – All parishioners and friends are invited to the parish monthly social to be held on Sunday, February 7th, immediately following the 9:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. Masses. The social will be held in the Ballad Room of St. Anthony’s Grade School. Enjoy some great refreshments and spend some time with other members of our parish community. We hope to see you there!
Upcoming Important Dates
- January 25th – Student Council Meeting – Pre-School Room – 3:00 – 3:30 P.M.
- January 30th – St. Anthony’s Spirit Night – Delaware 87ers Game – Bob Carpenter Center – 7:00 P.M.
- January 31st – February 6th – Catholic Schools Week
- January 31st – Catholic Schools Week Mass- Church – 11:00 A.M.
- Parish Social – Ballad Room – Immediately after 11:00 A.M. Mass
- Grade School Open House – 12:00 – 3:00 P.M.
- February 1st – Teacher Appreciation Day
- Math League – St. Anthony’s School – 3:00 – 5:00 P.M.
- February 2nd – Spirit Day – Activities in Gym
- February 3rd – Knowledge Bowl – Gym – 1:30 P.M.
- February 4th – Student Appreciation Day
- School-wide Assembly – 9:30 A.M.
- Talent Show – Gym – 1:30 P.M.
- February 5th – 8th Grade vs. Parents/Teachers Volleyball Game – Fournier Hall – 1:30 P.M.
- February 7th – Parish Social after the 9:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. Mass – Ballad Room
- February 8th – Student Council Meeting – Pre-School Room – 3:00 – 3:30 P.M.
- February 10th – Ash Wednesday Mass – Church – 8:00 A.M.
- YAC General Meeting – Ballad Room – 6:00 P.M.
- Grotto’s Night – Pennsylvania Avenue – 4:00 – 9:00 P.M.
- February 11th – Kindergarten Field Trip – Playhouse Theater
- School Spelling Bee – Gym – 1:30 P.M.
- February 12th – SCHOOL CLOSED – Middle States Planning Day
- February 15th – SCHOOL CLOSED – Presidents Day
- February 19th – Stations of the Cross – Church – 2:00 P.M.
- February 22nd – Student Council Meeting – Pre-School Room – 3:00- 3:30 P.M.
- February 24th – Noon Dismissal – Professional Development
- February 25th – 5th Grade Field Trip – Franklin Institute – 8:30 A.M. – 2:15 P.M.
- February 26th – 6th/7th Grade Field Trip – Padua Academy “Footloose” – 9:00 – 11:00 A.M.
- Stations of the Cross- Church- 2:00 P.M.
- February 29th – Student Council Meeting – Pre-School Room – 3:00 – 3:30 P.M.
- March 3rd – Spring Pictures
- March 4th – End of Trimester 2
- Stations of the Cross – Church – 2:00 P.M.
- March 7th – March 11th – Terra Nova Testing
- March 9th – YAC Meeting – Ballad Room – 6:00 P.M.
- Home and School Meeting – Ballad Room – 6:30 P.M.
- March 11th – Stations of the Cross – Church – 2:00 P.M.
- March 12th – Home and School Beef and Beer – Ballad Room
- March 12th/13th – Padua Academy – 7th Grade High School Placement Test
- March 14th – Student Council – Preschool Room – 3:00 – 3:30 P.M.
- First Eucharist Meeting – Ballad Room – 6:15 P.M.
- March 15th – Reconciliation – 2nd, 3rd, 4th Grade – Church – 9:30 A.M.
- March 16th – Reconciliation – 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th Grade – Church – 9:30 A.M.
- March 18th – Stations of the Cross – Church – 2:00 P.M.
- March 20th – Parish Easter Egg Hunt – After 11:00 A.M. Mass
- March 21st – Student Council Meeting – Preschool Room – 3:00 – 3:30 P.M.
- March 24th – April 3rd –School Closed – Easter Vacation
I hope to see you soon as we celebrate and share our Catholic identity. Stay warm, and be safe this weekend. Please be sure to check our website for any closings. We will also be using School Messenger to communicate any pertinent information.
Warm Winter Blessings,
Mrs. White
“Let us thank all those who teach in Catholic schools. Educating is an act of love; it is like giving life.”
– Pope Francis