Dear School Families,
Today ended Vocation Awareness Week. This week is dedicated to learning about and celebrating the vocations of the Catholic Church. Below is a prayer we used in school this week.
Loving and Generous God,
it is You who call us by name
and ask us to follow You.
Help us to grow in the Love
and Service of our Church
as we experience it today.
Give us the energy and courage
of Your Spirit
to shape its future
Grant us faith-filled leaders
who will embrace Christ’s Mission
of love and justice.
Bless the Church of St. Anthony’s
by raising up dedicated and generous leaders
from our families and friends
who will serve Your people as Sisters,
Priests, Brothers, Deacons, and Lay Ministers.
Inspire us to know you better
and open our hearts
to hear Your call.
November brings the time of year when we focus more closely on what we are grateful for so I thought I would tell you a few things I am grateful for. I am thankful for the continued health and well-being of our students and their families, our staff and their families, and all members of the St. Anthony’s community. I am grateful to work with the amazing faculty and staff of our school. I am grateful that you decided on a Catholic education for your child, allowing them to grow in knowledge and faith. And I am grateful that you chose St. Anthony’s for them.
We are nearing the beginning of the liturgical year. Advent begins on Sunday, November 28th. This joyful season is one of great importance as we prepare for the birth of the Messiah. Our school’s Advent theme this year will be, “JESUS’S JOURNEY TO US.” This theme follows along with our Diocesan theme of being “Companions on the Journey.” Mr. Shields came up with this theme, describing Advent as being a time when Jesus was on a journey to get to us.
The Diocese of Wilmington High School Placement Test is this weekend! – Please keep our 8th Graders in your prayers for success on the high school entrance test. Testing will take place at parish and diocesan schools, as well as Archmere and Salesianum.
Saturday 5 pm Mass returns to St. Anthony’s! – Starting tomorrow, November 13th, the parish will offer a Saturday 5 pm Mass each week. These Masses will start without music. Once the new year begins, we will return to a full Mass.
Wednesday, November 17th is an important day for our 2nd Graders. This is the day they will receive the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation for the first time. Please keep them in your prayers as they receive this Sacrament.
Spirit Night at Cafe Napoli – Please join us on Wednesday, November 17th for some delicious Italian food at Cafe Napoli on Kirkwood Highway. A portion of all sales, both eat-in and take-out, will be given to the school. A flyer will be sent home at the beginning of next week.
Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser– This fundraiser will run from November 15th – November 19th. Information will be sent to you separately through School Messenger. It is a 100% contactless fundraiser. The product is shipped directly to the buyer! You will need to download the Double Good app, which is available for free on IOS and Android. Our event code will be included with the flyer sent through School Messenger.
Attention 8th Grade Parents – Next Friday, November 19th, students will take their Confirmation test in class. Please be sure to review the material with them. Thank you!
Trimester 1 ends on Tuesday, November 23rd – We are quickly nearing the end of Trimester 1. Report Cards will be sent home the week of December 6th.
Santa’s Secret Shop – We are bringing back Santa Secret Shop this year! It will be held from Monday, December 6th to Wednesday, December 8th. Students will be able to purchase reasonably priced gifts for their family members (or themselves). Typically, we send an envelope and order form home. This will allow you to control how many items and how much money your child decides to spend. You can put $2, $15, $50, or any amount you wish to send in for them to shop with. The average amount students normally bring in is $10-20 depending on how many people they are buying for. Items typically range from $1-$7.
Five Below Spirit Week – We will be having a Spirit Week at Five Below from Thursday, December 9th to Wednesday, December 15th. Please shop at Five Below located at 4615 Kirkwood Highway in the Midway Plaza from 11:00am – 7:00pm on any of the days and our school will receive a portion of the profits. A flyer will be sent home in the white envelopes on Wednesday, December 8th. Shop early and often to support our school!
Save the Date – December 23rd for the Christmas Program – We are tentatively planning to have a brief Christmas program on Thursday, December 23rd at 10:30am. We will showcase our younger students (PreK – 4th Grade) with traditional singing. Our dismissal will be at noon that day. We plan to use our church as it is a large gathering space where we can safely distance. More details to follow.
Christmas Mass Schedule – This Christmas, St. Anthony’s will offer Mass at 4pm,7pm, and 10pm on Christmas Eve. There will be one Mass only on Christmas Day at 10 am.
Upcoming Important Dates
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- Wednesday, 11/17 6:15 pm – First Penance in our church – Second Grade and PREP students.
- Cafe Napoli Spirit Night
- Tuesday, 11/23 – Trimester One ends
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- NO AFTER CARE TODAY!
- Wednesday- Friday, 11/24-11/26 – SCHOOL CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING BREAK
- Sunday, 11/28 – First Sunday of Advent
- Tuesday, 11/30 – School Spelling Bee
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- Friday, 12/3 – SCHOOL CLOSED for STUDENTS/Staff Reports to work on Middle States
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- Confirmation Rehearsal – Church – 5:45 pm
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- Saturday, 12/4 – Confirmation – Church – 1:00 pm
- Thursday, 12/9 – Wednesday, 12/15 – Five Below Spirit Week – More information will be sent home.
- Thursday, 12/23 – Noon Dismissal; NO AFTERCARE
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- Christmas Program – Church – 10:30
- Friday – Friday, 12/24-12/31 – SCHOOL CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS BREAK
Our next Tiger Talk will be on December 10th. Please like and subscribe to our Facebook page “St. Anthony of Padua Grade School Families, Alumni, & Friends” to keep up with what has been going on in the school. Pictures of school activities are regularly posted as well as reminders of upcoming events.
Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving and blessed Advent,
Mrs. White
Principal
“Gratitude is a flower that blooms in noble souls.” ~ Pope Francis