Tiger Talk! September 29, 2017

 

Dear Parents/ Guardians,

Today at Mass, Father Mark Wrightson celebrated with us the Feast of the Archangels, Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Father told the children that the Archangels were the “highest rank” of Angels sent to watch over us and remind us that God loves us and is always with us, in everything we do. When we are nervous, God is there to reassure us and let us know we are never alone. When we accomplish something, God was there to give us strength. He added that God is always with us because He CAN be, and His angels are His helpers.  God often sends messages to us through these special angels. When we pray to the angels, God hears us. At the end of Mass Father Wrightson had the students clap for the angels in thanksgiving for assisting us with a beautiful Mass. He thanked the angels for helping the Antonians sing, the altar servers to serve, the readers to spread the Word, and each of us to participate fully.

 

In October, we will be celebrating the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary with a focus on the virtue of obedience. We purchased new Rosaries for all of the students and staff this year to highlight the significance of Mary and praying the Rosary in our schools this year.

Family Surveys: Thank you for your cooperation with this important form that helps ensure that we receive quality Title One services for our students!

Blessing of the Animals is Tuesday, October 3rd at 2:00 P.M.: Please bring your family pets to our annual Blessing of the Animals. We will gather in the field adjacent to the school, and the blessing will begin promptly at 2:00 P.M. If you are unable to attend, your child is welcome to bring a favorite picture of their beloved pet or may even draw a picture. Father will happily bless pets and pictures.

Wednesday, October 4th is our Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Peace Statue: This is a special day celebrating one of the many traditions of our Catholic faith – the Rosary. We will travel to Holy Spirit Parish in New Castle where students around the Diocese will gather to pray the Rosary with Bishop Malooly. Only 8th Grade Students and Antonians will attend this event. School uniforms must be worn this day, in order for a child to participate. Gym uniforms and sneakers may be brought to school that day and changed into when we return.

Thursday, October 5th is a Noon Dismissal: Please arrive on time for dismissal, as library construction will begin shortly after noon. There is no after care on noon dismissal days.

Saturday, October 7th is an optional Light the Night Walk! Our 7th Grade class is participating in the Light the Night Walk at Nemours A.I. duPont Hospital for Children. We will be walking in support of our student Mateo who is battling Leukemia. Please register ahead to walk for Mateo’s group by visiting,

https://registration.lightthenight.org/event-selected/73396/team-selected/528938

Join the group “Mateo’s Jedi’s, with Captain Kyle Reynolds.” Free food and fun begin on the hospital grounds at 4:30 P.M. The walk will not begin until 7:00 P.M. Please be sure your students wear their orange gym uniform shirt so it will be easy to gather everyone. We are looking into getting orange glow sticks or necklaces for the group so that Mateo can see us from the hospital window. Parents must remain on hospital grounds with your student, as faculty and staff will arrive closer to the time of the walk. The following information was provided by the hospital:

The Walk opens at 4:30PM, with the actual Walk portion kicking off at around 7PM or dusk. Before the Walk there are many activities and free food for guests. Please enter the main gate at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children from Children’s Drive. Once you’ve entered the main entrance of the hospital there are two parking lots on the right. Please park in one of those. You will see the event is in the hedged in area right in front of the bell tower. The Registration Tent is right behind the parking lot. We’d like for you to register ahead of time, but if you can’t until the Walk we can register you there. The Walk will kick off right there by the bell tower, will continue through the Mansion gardens and round back by the hospital. 

School is closed Friday, October 6th and Monday, October 9th: Enjoy the long weekend with your children. We will miss them! We will all be attending a Diocesan-wide Professional Development day on Friday at St. Mark’s High School. On Monday, school will be closed in observance of Columbus Day. However, Mr. Shields and I will be attending the Columbus Day Communion Mass and Breakfast. We once again look forward to the very generous donation from the Columbus Day Committee to help with our technology renovations in the library. The Columbus Day Committee has been responsible for several advances in our technology, helping us market our school, and helping us serve our students who are avid digital learners.

Press Release from the Diocese:

September 19, 2017 — (Wilmington, Delaware) — The Most Rev. W. Francis Malooly, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, announced today that any student currently attending a Catholic elementary or secondary school in a hurricane-battered diocese may attend a Catholic school as a tuition-free diocesan guest for the 2017-2018 school year.

“A number of families must re-locate due to the recent hurricanes and the Diocese of Wilmington wishes to assist any who may come to Delaware or the Eastern Shore of Maryland in continuing the faith and academic development of their children while they re-build their lives and their homes,” said Dr. Louis De Angelo, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese.

“We recognize the tremendous work that lies ahead for re-located families and we wish to assist them in continuing their children’s Catholic school education without tuition worries,” Bishop Malooly said in letters to the Archbishops of Galveston-Houston and Miami.

For over 185 years, Catholic schools have been serving the needs of area families by offering a Christ-centered educational alternative.

The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was established in 1868 and comprises 56 parishes, 18 missions, and 36 schools serving the State of Delaware and the nine counties of Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

The diocese will celebrate its 150th anniversary with a year-long celebration beginning March 3, 2018. Information is available at www.cdow.org

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Library Renovations: Phase One of construction begins next Thursday, October 5th! Stay tuned as we transform our traditional library into a 21st Century Digital Classroom! The dumpster will be moving in next week. It will be placed in front of the school, and we have asked to have a fence installed around it for safety. Construction work (particularly demolition) will not take place during school hours. Bancroft Homes will be working in the evenings and over the weekend. I am asking that you please take your children to the playground or field after school, rather than allowing them to play in the grassy area next to school as usual.

Confirmation Reminders! Mark your calendars for the following dates:

  • Monday October 2nd – 6:15 P.M. in the school cafeteria.  Each student candidate should be present with his/her Sponsor and at least 1 parent.
  • Saturday, October 21st – Confirmation Retreat for student candidates begins at 9:15 A.M. Parents and Sponsors should meet at 5:30 P.M. in the church for a Mass together. Lunch is provided.
  • Monday, October 23rd – 6:15 P.M. in church. Student candidates will meet for a session with Father Nick Waseline.
  • Monday, November 13th – 6:15 P.M. meeting in the cafeteria for just student candidates. There will be a speaker from Generation Life.
  • Friday, December 8th – Dress Rehearsal. Students are to come to church at 5:45 P.M. wearing their Confirmation outfit. Sponsors should be in attendance.
  • Saturday, December 9th – Sacrament of Confirmation at 10:00 A.M. in church. Students report to the cafeteria at 9:15 A.M. Parents and Sponsors will meet the students in church.

 

First Penance Reminders! Mark your calendars for the following dates:

  • Monday, October 16th – Parents only meeting at 6:15 P.M. in the cafeteria
  • Wednesday, November 15th – Sacrament of First Penance in church at 6:15 P.M.

 

Upcoming October Dates:

  • Tuesday, October 3rd – Blessing of the Animals – School Field – 2:00 P.M.
  • Wednesday, October 4th –Our Lady of the Rosary Pilgrimage for 8th Grade and Antonians
  • Thursday, October 5th – NOON DISMISSAL
  • Friday, October 6th – NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS. Professional Development for Faculty and Staff
  • Monday, October 9th – NO SCHOOL – Columbus Day
  • Thursday, October 12th – 3rd  Grade Field Trip to Delaware Fire School
  • Monday, October 16th – School picture retake day
    • Kindergarten Field Trip to Highland Orchards
  • Wednesday October 18th – St. Anthony’s Family Night at Bertuccis. Visit either location (Rt. 202 or Kirkwood Highway) all day. Join your teachers after school for dinner!
  • Friday, October 20th – Trimester One Interim notices will be sent home.
  • Thursday, October 26th – Grandparent’s Day. More information will follow. NOON DISMISSAL.   Mandatory Parent Teacher Conferences
  • Friday, October 27th – Home and School Halloween Party 6:00-8:00 P.M.

Autumn Blessings,

Mrs. White

 

“Let us learn from the Virgin Mary how to be bolder in obeying the word of God.”  ~ Pope Francis

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