Tiger Talk! April 8, 2016

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I hope that you had a wonderful and restful Easter break. In my opinion, this is the best time of year in the church as we celebrate the Risen Jesus and His promise of new life in the spring. Our parable for the month of April is the Parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). This story reminds us to be mindful of ourselves and others. It focuses on the relationship between a wealthy man and a poor beggar named Lazarus. We may at times consider ourselves rich in many ways, filled with blessings of finances, good health, great friends, etc. At those times, we are urged to consider sharing our blessings with others. Our relationship with people can be a blessing in so many ways. We can bring joy to the lives of others, sometimes with a simple gesture.  We also identify at times with the life of Lazarus. We feel like we are lacking financially, spiritually, emotionally, physically, or psychologically. We are lonely, anxious, or sad, and we reach out to others to help fill the void we may feel at the time. We feel empty and poor in spirit. I believe that almost everything in life is about relationship and being, as Pope Francis says, “heartfully present” for others. The poorest and saddest of people can be the most openly joyful at times. That may be because of their relationship (faith and hope) with Jesus. There are people who have very little money, but consider themselves rich with love, family, and friends. This spring, we will talk to our students about being more mindful of their relationships and needs and those of others. We will remind them that in times when it seems hopeless or they feel helpless, God is always there. We are rich in our faith, and we can rely on that unconditional loving relationship to see us through any challenge. And we will remind our students that we can always rely on each other.  This is a parish family that is rich in faith, love, hope, generosity, stewardship, and much more. I have seen it and felt it my entire life. So, in this time of parish strategic planning and growth, I ask you to be mindful of your gifts and blessings. Consider sharing your time, treasure, and talent with our parish. We are always looking for new stewards. As we prepare for the Italian Festival, I encourage you to spend time with us.  The folks that work tirelessly over those long 8 days are the perfect example of the greatness and bounty that comes from stewardship and relationship.

Speaking of stewards, please join me in honoring this year’s Community Builders! God bless Kathleen Williams for her humble service in the cafeteria, for after-care, in the main office, and wherever she has been asked to serve.  She has always done so gracefully. God bless our favorite custodian, Miguel Pezellin. Miguel truly keeps our building shining! We have one of the cleanest school buildings, if not the cleanest, in the Diocese. We don’t have an expensive cleaning crew. We have Miguel and his wonderful family serving us daily. And finally, God bless our amazing maintenance man, Carlos Pezellin. Carlos works tirelessly and knows every inch of our building and how everything operates. If we call him 50 times a day, he will respond quickly and always with a smile. We are truly blessed to have these people working behind the scenes. We will recognize them next week at our Annual Community Builders Award Ceremony. Please be sure to thank them for their service over many years here at St. Anthony’s.

I would be remiss if I did not once again thank our incredible Home and School Board for the most recent Designer Bag Bingo event. They filled our school gym with almost 300 people, served food, drinks, and snacks, and cleared the gym of tables and chairs in record time. I’m impressed by and extremely grateful for the entertainment and bonding opportunities they provide our children and families throughout the school year. This group of dedicated parents gives our school the “family feel” people often claim they experience when they enter the parish or join our school. Please check the school website for their upcoming events.

Although the weather has not been ideal, Spring is upon us.  The energy level in school is contagious. It has made my formal teacher observations very exciting. Those teachers being observed may not agree with me, but it is so refreshing to see that after 7 full months of school, our children have not lost any enthusiasm for learning. Each classroom has a fabulous natural buzz. The students are actively engaged, and the teachers seem to be energized following the break. I am excited to hopefully be back here full time. I really miss the controlled chaos that we often operate within. We are now finishing up our preparations for our Middle States reaccreditation process. The visiting team will arrive on Sunday, April 24^th, and will be with us full time until Wednesday afternoon, April 27^th. They will be observing and evaluating every aspect of our school. We are very confident in our preparation and all that we have to offer in our parish. There is only one area of concern that we have, and it is not a new one. It is something that falls on the responsibility of all parents and grandparents who transport children to and from school. We need everyone’s cooperation in this matter. We are going to ask that you please respect our drop off and pick up safety procedures by not double parking across the street or parking on sidewalks. We ask that you only pull up to the front of the school if you plan on doing a quick drop off.   Please use extreme caution after pulling forward and leaving the front of the building. Please use the crossing guard and cross at the corners as well. We sincerely appreciate your help with this one area.

 

School News

 

Congratulations to our March Fransiscan Spirituality Award winners.  March’s virtue was service.  Congratulations to Sylvie Keen (PreK 3), Mary Middleton (PreK 4), Annie Demosthene (K), Abigail Beals (1^st), Patrick McLaughlin (2^nd), Sirriya Cruz (3^rd), Addison Pfeil (4^th), Makenna Sarver (5^th), Allen Martin Del Campo (6^th), Luke Swift (7^th), and Whitney Sims (8^th)!

 

Mercy in Motion Pilgrimage – On Saturday, March 19th, seven middle school students and Mr. Limmina participated in the Diocese of Wilmington annual pilgrimage.  They joined over 800 other youth to walk the city streets of Wilmington with Bishop Malooly, carrying the Pilgrimage Cross from parish to parish.  The day ended with the celebration of Palm Sunday Mass at St. Elizabeth’s.  Congratulations to students Leah Rizzo, Hannah Fagioli, Danny Piergalline, Thomas Vadden, Henry Kelleher, Ana Mazalewski, and Jordan Foy  for taking an active role in expressing their faith!  Two of our youngest students, Veruca Schweiger and Eliana Tsatsaronis, were also there with their families.

Tigers Alums go to Italy – Over the spring break, St. Anthony’s alumnae went to Italy with Padua Academy.  The girls had a wonderful time learning and seeing all the history that Italy had to offer them.

Dine out at Panera Bread Night for St. Anthony’s – St. Anthony of Padua Grade School is holding a Spirit Night on Thursday, April 21^st, at Panera Bread on Kirkwood Highway. This event runs from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. and is good for dining-in at the restaurant or for take-out. Teachers from the school will be there to greet you. Please turn in your receipt to them and our school will receive a portion of the proceeds. Come out and enjoy a delicious meal and support our school. We hope to see you there!

 

Dine at Red Robin and support St. Anthony’s – Red Robin has a program called “Burgers for Better Schools”.  Every time you eat at Red Robin, our school can earn money. You can sign up at the restaurant or online atwww.redrobin.com/betterschools

for their royalty card. You will also earn rewards and coupons for your family. **FromApril 11 to April 24, Red Robin will donate 5% of your check to St. Anthony’s every time you visit and use your Red Robin Royalty account!** A flyer was sent home on Wednesday, and a link will be on our website. If you eat at Red Robin, please consider signing up. Thank you for your support!

 

Evening of Sacred Music – On Thursday, April 14^th, the Antonians will be participating in the Diocesan Evening of Sacred Music.  This event will be held at St. Elizabeth’s Church beginning at 7:00 P.M.  Elementary school choirs from around the Diocese will be performing sacred hymns and songs.  Please join us for this lovely event.

 

Yearbooks – 2015-2016 Yearbooks are available for $30.  Order online at http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01128770 or click the “Yearbook” link on the St. Anthony’s website.

 

Home and School/YAC News

 

Home and School Board Nominations – Our last Home and School meeting of the year is scheduled for Tuesday, May 17^th.  At this annual meeting, our elections take place for the open positions on the 2016-2017 Home and School Board.  If you or someone you know would be an asset to our Home and School Board, if you are creative, hardworking, or just want to get involved, please don’t hesitate to submit nominations for these important positions.  The Nomination form went home on Wednesday, April 6^th with all students.  Please complete and return to the school office by Friday, April 15^th.  The positions available are President, Treasurer, and many Board Member positions.  Don’t hesitate, our school family needs you.  We welcome you to please get involved!  Any questions, please contact JoAnn DiOssi at (302) 383-4932.

 

SAVE THE DATE…SATURDAY, APRIL 30^th– SPRING FLING -Fun for the whole family will be taking place at this year’s Carnival themed Spring Fling from 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. in the school gym and outdoor courtyard (weather permitting).  We will be having Bounce Inflatables for all ages,  Games,  Foul Shot contest, Slap Shot contest,  Minute to Win It Games Challenges, Dance Music, and plenty of food.  Tickets are $5 per person or $20 per family of four or more.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.  A flyer will be coming home soon.   Please plan on joining us for an evening of family fun!

 

Parish News

 

Parish Pastoral Council Nominations – Your Parish Pastoral Council needs your expertise and experience.  The Council serves as an important consultative body that represents the views of parishioners to the pastor and parish staff on a variety of parish issues.  Registered parishioners, age 18 and over, are eligible to run for a term of either two (2) or three (3) years.  The Council meets once per month (September-May, excluding December) and members are also asked to serve on a standing committee and assist with parish projects as needed.  If you are interested in nominating yourself or another parishioner for the Council, please complete a nomination form that will be available in the pews the weekends of April 23^rd -24^th and April 30^th -May 1^st.  You may also submit your name as a nominee, or the name of a parishioner whom you wish to nominate, to Anthony Albence at (302) 983-3200 or via e-mail at: cua20064@aol.com.

 

Festival Wednesday Setup Nights begins April 13^th – It’s that time of year again!  Your help is needed on Wednesdayevenings to prepare for the 2016 Italian Festival.  No particular skills are needed-just a willingness to lend a hand.  All are welcome! Check in near the garage (across from the Ballad Room entrance on 10^th Street near Scott) or in the Ballad Room to sign in at 6:00 P.M.  Refreshments are served in the Ballad Room at 8:30 P.M.  Come out and join your friends and fellow parishioners and have fun while supporting our primary fundraiser for St. Anthony’s Grade School.

 

Italian Festival Gift Cards – A great gift for everyone that also helps to support our Grade School!  Italian Festival Gift Cards will be available along with the usual selection of cards offered by the Home and School Association on Fridaymornings in the Grade School.  Cards are available in $25 and $50 values and may be purchased with cash, check, or credit cards.  The gift cards may be used at various venues at the Festival that accept credit cards, including admission, Midways ticket booths, cafes, and vendors using our Point of Sale (POS) system.  You may also arrange to purchase a card by contacting Anthony Albence via email (cua20064@aol.com) or via phone (302-983-3200).  Thanks for your continued support of the Italian Festival and our Grade School.

 

Business Office News

 

Transportation Refund – We have received notification from the State of Delaware that our transportation refund this year will be $77.81 for each family who completed the Transportation Form at the start of this school year. To process the reimbursement in a more efficient manner again this year, we will apply the funds to the final tuition payment for the 2015-2016 school year rather than processing individual checks.  If you are a family on Tuition Plan A or B, a check will be issued to you over the summer.  Plan A and B families, if you would like to have your reimbursement credited to your 2016-2017 school tuition, please contact Lisa Serio at 421-3707 or lserio@stanthonynet.org.

 

Upcoming Important Dates

• April 9^th – 7^th Grade Placement Test – St. Elizabeth’s – 8:30 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
• April 11^th –April 15^th  – Italian Week – Various Activities through the week
• April 11^th – Student Council Meeting – Pre-School Room – 3:00 – 3:30 P.M.
• April 12^th – 1^st Grade Field Trip – Hagley Museum
• April 13^th – YAC Meeting – Ballad Room – 6:00 P.M.
• April 14^th – Evening of Sacred Music – St. Elizabeth’s Church – 7:00 P.M.
  • Community Builders – Gym – 10:00 A.M.
• April 18^th – Student Council Meeting – Pre-School Room – 3:00 – 3:30 P.M.
• April 20^th – Noon Dismissal – Professional Development
  • Padua and Salesianum Visit – 6^th and 7^th Grade Classrooms – 10:00 A.M.
• April 21^st – Panera Bread Spirit Night
• April 24^th – April 27^th – Middle States Visit
• April 27^th – Noon Dismissal – Middle States
• April 28^th – 3^rd Grade Presentation – Teach Children to Save Day
  •  Rush Uniform and A Stitch in Time – Uniform measurements – 8:00 A.M.
• April 30^th – Home and School Spring Fling – Ballad Room – 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.
• May 1^st – Parish Social – Ballad Room – After 9:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. Mass
• May 2^nd – Student Council Meeting – Pre-School Room – 3:00 – 3:30 P.M.
• May 3^rd – Home and School Board Meeting and Candidate Social – Ballad Room – 6:30 P.M
• May 4^th – St. Elizabeth Visit to 6^th and 7^th Grades – Ballad Room – 1:30 P.M.
• May 5^th – Pre-School Mothers’ Day Breakfast – Gym – 7:30 – 8:45 A.M.
• May 6^th – First Eucharist Practice Day – 7:30 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. (Prep students)
  • Olevano exchange students arrive
• May 7^th – First Communion – Church – 10:00 A.M.
• May 9^th – Student Council Meeting – Pre-School Room – 3:00 – 3:30 P.M.
• May 10^th – May Procession Practice – 1:30 P.M.
• May 11^th – May Procession – 2:00 P.M.
  • May Procession Practice – 9:00 A.M.
• May 13^th – 5^th Grade Field Trip – Philadelphia Museum of Art – 9:00 A.M. – 2:15 P.M.
• May 15^th – Pentecost Sunday Social – Ballad Room – after 11:00 A.M. Mass
  • Olevano exchange students depart
• May 16^th – May 20^th  – Excellence Fair – School Gym
• May 16^th – Student Council Meeting –Pre-School Room – 3:00-3:30 P.M.
• May 17^th – YAC Meeting – Ballad Room – 6:00 P.M.
  • Home and School Meeting – Ballad Room – 6:30 P.M.
• May 18^th – 8^th Grade NYC Trip – 7:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.
• May 19^th – 1^st Grade Field Trip – Philadelphia Zoo
  • Spirit Night – Café Riviera at Concord Mall – All Day
  • Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Book Fair – Concord Mall
• May 23^rd – Student Council Meeting – Pre-School Room – 3:00 – 3:30 P.M.
• May 24^th – Field Day
• May 27^th – Noon Dismissal – Planning Day
• May 30^th – School Closed – Memorial Day
• May 31^st – Spring Band Concert – Gym – 1:30 P.M.
• June 1^st – Preschool and Kindergarten Last Day
• June 6^th – Graduation Mass and Breakfast – Church/Ballad Room – 8:00 A.M.
  • Graduation practice to follow in Church till 12:00 P.M.
• June 7^th – Noon Dismissal
  • 8^th Grade Graduation – Church – 7:00 P.M.
• June 8^th – Last Day of School – 10:30 A.M. Dismissal
  • Closing Mass – Church – 9:30 A.M.

 

Many Blessings,

Mrs. White and Mr. Shields

 

“To change the world we must be good to those who cannot repay us.”  ~ Pope Francis