Dear Parents,
Today at Mass, Father Wrightson taught us about the loving and forgiving nature of Jesus as our friend. He told the story of Jesus and His friend Peter. He talked about Jesus returning and having breakfast with His disciples. He sits right down with them. Jesus asks His friend Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Father Wrightson explained that we can hear that story many times and not realize what Jesus was doing. Why does Jesus ask Peter the same question three times? There is a reason. A few days prior to this breakfast, Peter was asked if he knew Jesus three times and three times he denied knowing Him. This was Jesus’s way of giving Peter three more chances to love and follow Him. Jesus simply wants us to be with Him and follow Him. Each time we step away from Jesus, He is there waiting to give us another opportunity to make up for whatever mistake it is that we have made. Each and every day Jesus allows us to start anew. We simply have to remember that Jesus is always with us. It was a story of who we are and how we live. This reminds me of the song our Second Graders just sang for Communion. “Jesus has a home in my heart. And He is with me each day. We are never apart, since Jesus lives in my heart. And I am never alone, since Jesus came and made a home; a home in my heart.”
We have some excellent news to share! Mrs. Angelo had a baby girl, Harper Grace, on Mother’s Day. We are ecstatic and cannot wait to meet Harper. Welcome to our newest Tiger!
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! I look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow night at the Awards Banquet, as we reach another milestone for our 8th Grade Class of 2018. We will celebrate all the accomplishments and wonderful sportsmanship and stewardship demonstrated by many of the students in our school.
School News
REMINDER – Next Friday, May 25th is a noon dismissal for students. There will be no After Care. This is a planning afternoon for teachers for next school year.
Music and the Arts! – This year, we are trying something new. Instead of holding the excellence fair in the gym, Mrs. Gaspari will be displaying art work from the entire school throughout our hallways. The kick-off event will be our Spring Band concert in the Ballad Room on Tuesday, May 22nd. We hope you will be able to join us for the concert! If you are unable to come to the concert, please stop by sometime during that week to see the lovely artwork your children have worked on through the year.
Nemours/A.I. DuPont Donation Drive – During the month of May, Student Council is running a donation drive for Nemours/A.I. DuPont Children’s Hospital. Information was sent home last week. We are hoping for at least one item per child in the school. Items may be brought in anytime between now and May 31st.
Field Day is moved to Tuesday, May 29th! All students are to wear their gym uniforms. Lunch will be provided that day. If your child does not eat hot dogs, please be sure to send lunch in with them.
- All students should bring a towel to sit on outside and an extra water bottle.
- Please be sure your child has applied sunscreen BEFORE coming to school.
Alumni News
Congratulations to the following former students who received honors at St. Elizabeth High School for the third marking period!
- 1st Honors – Justin Brooks, Andres Fabris, James Mazalewski, Taylor Oden-Randolph, Nathan Thomas, Daniel Borowski, Sadie Falcone-Testardi, Alexis Martin Del Campo, and Ben Pfeil.
- 2nd Honors – Angelina Squillace, Angelina Degnars, Jordan Foy, Anastasia Mazalewski, and Naia Pulliam
Congratulations to the following former students who received honors at Padua Academy for the third marking period!
- High Honors – Christina Molloy, Samantha DiVirgilio, Mackenzie McCall, Robin Land, Reagan Widmaier, Katherine Collier, and Rachel Tomlinson.
- Honors – Ellen Banker, Andrea Reynolds, Julia Wood, Noelle DiVirgilio
Parish News
New Parish Website – St. Anthony’s parish is pleased to announce our new parish website, which features significant usability upgrades and a wide expansion of content. The new site is “live” now and we will prepare to wind down the existing site after May 15, 2018. Please bookmark the new site and start visiting it today! The new site address is: http://www.sapde.org. Check the site often as we continue to add content to it!
Pentecost Sunday “Red Foods” Social – A new parish tradition, the Pentecost Sunday Social featuring red foods (the color of the Holy Spirit, whose descent into the world we celebrate on Pentecost) will be held on Sunday, May 20th after the 11:00 A.M. Mass in the Ballad Room of the Grade School. Stop by for food, fun, and socializing with fellow parishioners and friends. The social will feature a variety of great treats from Serpe’s Bakery, delicious breakfast pizzas from Degnars Greenhill Deli, and a variety of red (& other) foods. Thanks to the Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality for their sponsorship of this social and for all they do to serve our parish community.
Italian Festival News
2018 Italian Festival: Volunteers Needed! – It’s that time of year again! The region’s largest Italian-American cultural event, and the primary fundraiser benefitting St. Anthony’s Grade School, is running Sunday, June 10th -Sunday, June 17th! Volunteers are essential to the Festival’s success. It’s a fun and very fulfilling way to support our school and parish, and to be part of a treasured community tradition. Of course, without volunteers, there is no Festival! No special skills or experience needed—everyone is welcome to volunteer! Check out volunteer opportunities at the Festival website: www.stanthonysfestival.com, & click on the Sign up To Volunteer Online link on the upper right of the home page. Then follow instructions on that page to our online signup link.
Grade School families are expected to volunteer 15 hours for the Festival. In addition to the online sign-up option, refer to information that was sent sent home with students regarding the volunteer assignment/sign-up process. School families may sign up either online or by completing & returning the paper signup form.
Thanks to everyone for your continued support!
Italian Festival 8-Day Passes & Gift Cards Now Available—PRE-FESTIVAL SALES PRICES – Passes are a great gift for graduation or any occasion! Gift cards are the perfect gift for Moms, Dads, grads—everyone. They are also a smart way to provide funds to the kids for use at this year’s Festival. BUY NOW and SAVE!!
- Passes & Gift Cards are available:
- at the Rectory during office hours (8:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M., Monday-Friday and 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M., Monday-Thursday) starting May 1, 2018
- at the Church after 5:30 P.M./7:00 A.M./9:00 A.M. Masses starting the weekend of May 6, 2018
- via secure PayPal purchase on the Festival website (stanthonysfestival.com) starting April 24, 2018
- with Home and School gift card sales at the Grade School on Friday mornings (starting April 27, 2018) and 11:00 A.M. Masses on Sundays (starting April 29, 2018)
PRICING:
- PRE-FESTIVAL 8-DAY PASS PRICE:
- $12.00—20% OFF price if purchased at the Festival ($15.00).
- A pass provides one admission per person per day to the Festival.
- Festival Admission Policy: Under age 14: FREE (if accompanied by a parent or guardian age 18 or older); $5 daily for ages 14-61; Over age 61: FREE.
- PRE-FESTIVAL GIFT CARD PRICES:
- $25.00 Gift Cards: PRE-FESTIVAL PRICE $22.00
- $50.00 Gift Cards: PRE-FESTIVAL PRICE $42.00
NOTE: Advance Ride Tickets will also be on sale when available. (Mid-May)
Looking for an Inexpensive Way to Promote Your Business? Would you like to reach the tens of thousands of people who attend the Italian Festival? Consider purchasing a banner that can advertise on our perimeter gate. It’s an easy and affordable way to spread the word about your business! For more info email us at: festival@stanthonynet.org or send a message to the Festival Facebook page (facebook.com/stanthonysfestival).
Important Dates – Please continue to check our school website (https://sapgs.org) for upcoming events and information. Also like our Facebook page to see photos from our events and school activities.
- May 19th – YAC Awards Banquet – Padua Academy – 6:00 P.M.
- May 20th – Parish Pentecost “Red Foods” Social – Ballad Room – after the 11:00 A.M. Mass
- May 21st – Student Council Final Meeting – PreSchool – 3:00 – 3:30 P.M.
- May 22nd – May 25th –Music and the Arts!
- May 22nd – Spring Band Concert – Ballad Room – 2:00 P.M.
- 2nd Grade Field Trip – White Clay Creek State Park
- May 23rd – 8th Grade Field Trip to NYC
- 1st Grade Field Trip – Philadelphia Zoo -8:30 A.M. – 2:30 P.M.
- May 24th – 5th Grade Field Trip – Philadelphia Museum of Art – 8:45 A.M. – 2:15 P.M.
- 3rd Grade Field Trip – Delaware Solid Waste Authority – 8:45 – 11:30 A.M.
- May 25th – NOON DISMISSAL FOR STUDENTS – Teacher Planning Day
- May 28th – Memorial Day – School Closed
- May 29th – Field Day
- June 1st – PreSchool’s Last Day
- June 4th – 8th Grade Communion Breakfast
- June 5th – 8th Grade Graduation – Church – 7:00 P.M.
- Kindergarten Last Day
- Kindergarten Prayer Service– Ballad Room – 2:00 P.M.
- June 6th – NOON DISMISSAL
- June 7th – LAST DAY OF SCHOOL – 10:30 A.M. Dismissal
- June 10th – June 17th – Italian Festival
- June 11th – Teachers’ Last Work Day
- Kindergarten Last Day
This will be the last Tiger Talk for the school year. Please like our Facebook page “St. Anthony of Padua Grade School Families, Alumni & Friends” to keep up-to-date with news, events, and photos. Also be sure to check our school website (sapgs.org) for updates as well.
Blessings,
Mrs. White and Mr. Shields
“The Lord never tires of forgiving, it is we who tire of asking for forgiveness.” ~ Pope Francis