Tiger Talk!
May 14, 2021
Dear School Families,
I truly cannot believe this is our last Tiger Talk! I find myself quite reflective as I write this. I have been in the field of education since 1992 (yes, I am old). Not a single year goes by that I don’t sit back and think about the closure that happens at the conclusion of each school year. I look at the struggles and the triumphs. I pray and hope that I have done the best possible work I could have for all of you and for your children. Has everyone felt safe, loved, welcomed, and respected? Have I helped our students grow in their faith? Was I a good role model of my patron saints, leading “gently but strongly” like St. Francis de Sales and caring for all of God’s creatures like St. Francis of Assisi? Have I respected my important role as administrator and treated it as a job or a mission? Have I been grateful and shared my thanks with everyone who has made this year possible? Did I make myself available to anyone who needed me? Did I pray enough? Our Diocesan motto this year was “Called to Serve.” I hope that I have served you all well. This has been a truly remarkable year! I am amazed by all that we have accomplished. Your children, each and every one of them, will always be in my heart and your families are forever in my prayers. This month we prepare for another graduating class to move on. It is exciting, but I will miss them. It has been a gift to see them grow and thrive, some of them since they were 3 years old. It has been a joy to see new students enter this school and bring even more energy and life to a class that was already established. This year, we welcomed so many new families. I hope you all remain with us. Our St. Anthony’s family is a special one. You are here with us forever, whether you realize it yet or not. Thanks for being a part of our lives and for entrusting your children to us each day. Words can’t express how blessed I feel for having been your princi-PAL this year.
I look forward to seeing all of you over the next few busy weeks. Next year, we will return to the majority of students entering the building through the main entrance. That will allow me to see all of you more often. If I don’t see you in the next couple weeks, have a fun, safe, and exciting summer. My hope is that we will all be able to return to a bit of normalcy. COVID vaccinations are now available for ages 12 and up. Mrs. Russell and I do strongly recommend getting a vaccine for your middle school children. Anything we can do to make our building even safer, we support. At this time, there are no changes to the masking and social distancing requirements in school. I do not expect them to change, regardless of what the Governor decides. However, I assure you that you will be informed as soon as I hear of any changes. I will be communicating through School Messenger via email with any changes. Our plan is to return fully in-person with masking and social distancing in place.
I will end my introductory message with a prayer I received from the Catholic Schools Office. It is titled “Prayer of Perseverance for the End of School. “
O God of beginnings and endings, and all that is between,
we praise and thank you for the gift of this school year. It has been a time filled with challenges and opportunities, unexpected with grace and blessings, joys and sorrows.
While we trust that Your Will has always been at work each day, sometimes it has seemed difficult to understand and appreciate
just what you have been up to in our school.
Give us the strength and perseverance we need this to finish the school year.
Let our efforts of this past year bear fruit. Bring all of our plans to a joyful conclusion,
And bless us, according to Your Will.
Let us continue to rely on You, Lord, to carry us through.
Watch over us in the weeks ahead, and guide each day as you have done this past year. Help us finish the year with vibrant spirit and renewed
energy.
Through the intercession of the many patron Saints of students and teachers, including St. Francis de Sales, St. John Baptist de la Salle, St. Thomas Aquinas,
St. Scholastica, and St. Catherine of Alexandria, may we continue to grow in age, wisdom, knowledge and grace
all the days of our lives.
Amen.
Field Day Success
Thank you to our 8th Grade class and Mrs. Orensky for a return to an almost normal field day. Aside from mask wearing and constant sanitizing, the day was just like every other year. We had a beautiful day. I hope you follow us on Facebook so you can see the pictures. Eighth Grade did a wonderful job running each station and sanitizing well in between each class. Sanitizing the blow-up obstacle course was an entertaining feat.
RUSH Uniform Inc.
Next year we will return to enforcing our uniform and dress code policy. We relaxed that this year due to the pandemic. The only required item from RUSH Uniform is the school shirt. It must be the navy blue logo shirt. All other uniform pieces may be purchased elsewhere.
After Care Program’s Last Day is Thursday, May 27th.
No after care services will be provided after Thursday the 27th.
Italian Festival News! Save the dates!
2021 St. Anthony’s Italian Festival: Take-Out Edition! St. Anthony’s Italian Festival returns in 2021 with a safe and convenient outdoor, takeout format! Secure online ordering and payment will be available, as well as on-site ordering and payment (by credit card). Join us Tuesday-Friday, 6/8-6/11, from 4:30-7:30PM for our famous Italian specialties! This year’s menu will feature:
Sandwiches (Offered all 4 days)
- Meatball Sandwich: $10.00
- Porkette Sandwich: $10.00
- Sausage and Peppers Sandwich: $10.00
Daily Specials
- Tuesday, 6/8: Pasta Faglioli $10.00
- Wednesday, 6/9: Gnocchi with Meatball $12.00
- Thursday, 6/10: Veal Spezzato Sandwich $12.00
- Friday, 6/11: Lasagna $15.00
Sides
Cheese Panzarotti: $10.00
Desserts
Cannolis: $4.00
Volunteers are needed for cooking and food prep for our Mini-Festival!
- Thursday, June 3, 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
- Saturday, June 5, Noon to 4:00 pm
- Sunday, June 6, 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm
- Monday, June 7, Noon to 5:00 pm
All cooking will be done in our school cafeteria. Please email or call Bob Shields if you wish to help out with advanced cooking bshields@stanthonynet.org or 421-3743.
As soon as we know more, I will provide additional details regarding ordering in advance and driving directions for advance order pickup and on-site ordering/pickup. Proceeds benefit our school. I hope to see you all at our 2021 festival. Mr. Shields and I will be there every night and hope to “serve” you in the Italian tradition of delicious food.
Be sure to check our school website calendar. Here are just a few reminders:
- Friday, May 28 – NOON DISMISSAL for all! Last day for preschool and 8th Grade
- Monday, May 31st – SCHOOL CLOSED for Memorial Day
- Tuesday, June 1st – Full day of school for Kindergarten through 7th Grade
- Wednesday, June 2nd – NOON DISMISSAL for ALL
- Thursday, June 3rd – 10:30 AM Dismissal. Last day of school
- Tuesday, June 8th through Friday, June 11th – FESTIVAL TAKE OUT from 4:30-7:30 pm
Blessings,
Mrs. White
Pope Francis spoke of summer as an ideal time to refocus our life on God.
“In this period, students are free from scholastic duties and many families are taking their vacation; it’s important that in the time of rest and detachment from daily concerns, they can re-energize the forces of body and spirit, deepening their spiritual path.” ~ Pope Francis