April
23, 2008
Dear
ASB families,
Thank
you for making time to attend a registration meeting over the last couple of
weeks. I really appreciate the chance to update you on important aspects of our
school. Hopefully you also gained some insights about the operations of the
school. Thank you to those of you who
have recommitted to scrip and are looking for new ways to expand its use. I
know that was a big topic of conversation after the registration meetings.
Thank you, too, for considering your pledge to the Annual Fund in the light of
information about the actual costs of education at ASB. You are generous to us
in so many ways!
In
the newsletter, you’ve seen requests for volunteers to help in various
programs. Our school offers such enrichment opportunities as Chess Club,
science clubs, robotics, foreign language, and math teams because of the
leadership and commitment of parent volunteers. Without continued support from
the parent community, those opportunities will not continue. So many people have
stepped forward to help in different capacities. I hope that everyone will
consider becoming involved in something that interests you.
Many
thanks to Denise Bailey and to all of you flower sale volunteers and
supporters!
Today
we celebrate National Administrative Professionals Day. It’s a good time to
recognize the often-unsung contributions of our office and administrative
staff: Bob Bollard, Kathryn Almy, Mary Patneaude, Cecelia Davison, Megan
Palmer, and Molly Johnson. They truly do keep things working smoothly.
This
is the time of year when I have one foot in the current year and one foot in
next year. As often happens, we will see some staffing changes next year. Ellen
Hamm, one of our first-grade teachers, will be leaving ASB to explore some new opportunities
in her passion for art. Three long-time staff members will retire at the end of
this year: Jackie Alexander, Ann Nachtigal, and Kathy Kane. I am grateful to
each of these people for the commitment that they have made to
I
want to share with you a special honor that has come to one of our students.
Claire Sullivan, an 8th grader, was the first-place winner in an
essay contest sponsored by the Northwest Association for Biomedical Research. The
theme of the contest was “Biomedical Breakthroughs and My Life.” Claire wrote a
very personal essay about thyroid cancer. Claire’s essay was selected from over
285 essays written by 7th and 8th graders throughout
I
leave you with a quote from Mother Teresa: “Do not think that love has to be
extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.” One gift of a
community is that we don’t all get tired at the same time! Have a great week.
Kathi Hand
April
9, 2008
Dear
ASB families,
I
was happy to see such a great turnout at our registration meetings. I hope you
found the information useful. Thank you for giving careful consideration to how
you as a family can continue to support our school as you make your Annual Fund
pledge and consider volunteer options. I especially ask you to consider using
scrip more regularly. What would happen if we could double the number of
families who regularly purchase grocery scrip from ASB for the remainder of this
school year? You can help that happen!
If
you were not able to attend any of our four registration meetings, you do need
to come in and meet with me to pick up your registration packet. Registration
packets are due on April 18, so please contact me as soon as possible to make
arrangements to meet.
As
most of you know, during Holy Week we welcomed both of our new ASB babies.
Owen Marshall Boyd was born on March 19 to Kori
& Brendan Boyd and big brother Colin.
MaryJane Josephine Pouley was
born on March 21 to Heidi & Dylan Pouley, not to mention Grandma Judy Lynn
Pouley.
If
you haven’t seen their photos in the front hall, check them out! Moms, dads,
babies, and grandmas are doing great!
I
hope that all of you had a peaceful Easter holiday with your family. Spring is,
as always, packed with excitement, with the 5th graders at Islandwood this week, middle school students busy with Beauty and the Beast, 8th
graders looking ahead to graduation, and 1st graders showing off
their ever-expanding reading skills. We are abundantly blessed!
Happy
April!
p.s.
You’re not too late for the flower sale! When spring actually arrives, you’ll
be glad you ordered those plants!
Kathi Hand
March
19, 2008
Dear
ASB families,
Today
we welcome the sixth graders and their teachers back from
In
my last letter, I announced the dates for our annual registration meetings,
April 1 and 8 at 7:00 p.m. and April 2 and 9 at 7:30 a.m. All meetings will be
held in the Fellowship Hall. Please plan to attend any one of these meetings.
We strongly encourage both parents to attend; child care will be provided
during the evening meetings. You must
attend one of these meetings in order to receive materials to register your
child for the 2008-2009 school year. If you are
unable to attend, please email me to set up an individual meeting. At these
meetings, I’ll have a chance to give you an overview of the school and an
update on our five-year plan. In my last letter, I said that you’d also get a
preview of our master plan; however, we have adjusted the timing on that, and
we will not be presenting our master plan for your input until later this
spring. I will, however, update you on the process.
The
Governance Council met last week and approved our budget for the 2008-2009
school year. We will be making a 6% increase in the tuition rates for next
year, which is a lower increase than last year’s. This increase allows us to
give our teachers and staff a 3% salary increase. To make our budget work, we
are also counting on scrip to match last year’s great sales. Last year, ASB
realized $127,000 profit from scrip. This year so far, we have seen about
$70,000 profit. That means that we have less than three months to make another
$57,000. We are counting on YOU to
help us reach that goal! If you’ve gotten out of the scrip
habit, now’s the time to rededicate yourself to it. If you’re a loyal
scrip user, spread the word! As always, I thank you for all of the ways that
you support our school. Your commitment and involvement make this community the
energized place that it is.
As
we prepare for our upcoming vacation, we say good-bye to Dorothy McGinley, who
is returning to
I
hope that this Holy Week and celebration of Christ’s Resurrection is a time of
renewal for you and your family. Happy Easter!
Kathi Hand
March
5, 2008
Dear
ASB families,
Today
students in grades 2 through 8 had the opportunity to receive the sacrament of
Reconciliation. We appreciate that Fr. Oliver, Fr. Gary Morelli,
Fr. Tom Suss, and Fr. Tony Haycock were with our
students today for this important part of our Lenten observances
Believe
it or not, in the midst of this busy month, we’re also gearing up for next
year. As we have done the last two years, we are asking all parents who are
registering students for 2008-2009 to attend a registration meeting to receive
your registration packet. At the meeting, I’ll give you some information about
our budget and report on our five-year plan goals. If you attend one of the
evening meetings, you’ll also have a chance to learn more about our master plan
and to provide feedback to the master plan committee. Please mark your
calendars now, and plan to attend any one of these meetings. We encourage both
parents to attend if at all possible. Child care will be provided. You’ll
receive more details about the meetings before our spring vacation. Also, the Governance
Council meets next week to consider our budget; once that is done, I’ll let you
know what tuition levels will be for next year.
SAVE THE DATE!
REGISTRATION MEETINGS
Tuesday evenings, April 1 or 8, at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday mornings, April 2 or 9, at 7:30 a.m.
We’ve
had a visitor this week; Deirdre Amor is the principal of Dorothy McGinley’s
school in
We
will also welcome our new development director to ASB on March 31. Her name is
Megan Palmer; she is currently working in the development office at Seattle
Prep as director of major gifts. Prior to that role, she was the coordinator of
their capital and endowment campaign. Megan is a graduate of Seattle Prep, and
she has worked there in development since 2002. She comes to ASB with a wide
range of experience and great enthusiasm, and I know she will build on the
strong foundation that Diane Kocer has established for us. Megan will be around
just a bit over the next few weeks, but she’s working on the Prep auction, and
she won’t start full-time until March 31. Be sure to stop in and introduce
yourself to her.
This
spring we will also welcome new babies to our ASB staff. Kori Boyd’s baby is
due during vacation. Becky Spelman, who taught 3rd
grade here before her children were born, will take over for Kori until she
returns for the last weeks of the year. Heidi and Dylan Pouley’s
baby is due in the middle of April. Heidi will be off for about six weeks.
Kathy Kane, Lori Landes, and I will share her teaching duties, with Kathy Kane
as the main teacher. When she returns, Dylan will stay home for a couple of
weeks. We are keeping those families especially in our prayers!
May
we all find hope in the signs of spring that surround us and in the promise of
Easter towards which we journey.
Kathi Hand
February
21, 2008
Dear
ASB families,
I
hope that you all enjoyed a little extra R & R over the holiday weekend.
The sunshine was a bonus and a much-appreciated harbinger of spring! Already we
are two weeks into this Lenten season. As you know, we traditionally observe
Lent through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. At a Friday afternoon prayer
assembly, the 8th graders reminded us about these traditions. Many
of us do the traditional “giving up” during Lent, a way to discipline
ourselves, to give up something as a way of growing closer to God. At our
prayer assembly last Friday, the 8th graders reminded us that we can
also fast from such negative habits and attitudes as selfishness, gossip and
arguing. You’ll see this theme repeated in the bulletin boards that encourage
us to instead feast on generosity, compassion, and inclusion. A good reminder
for all of us!
At
the end of February, we will say an official farewell to Diane Kocer in her
role as development director. For the past ten years Diane has worked in
partnership with the ASB Development Committee to expand the sources of funding
for our school, always with the goal of keeping tuition as affordable as
possible. Under Diane’s direction, ASB’s development
program has grown considerably. The Annual Fund and scrip program are
well-established, and we have broadened our donor base beyond the ASB parent
community. Beginning in March, Diane will be working full-time at her new job
at AGC Education Foundation. We will miss her energy and her expertise.
However, she leaves behind a well-established program upon which we can build
for our future. On behalf of the entire ASB community, I want to thank Diane
for all of her hard work on our behalf. I know you join me in wishing her all
the best in her new position. And we’re grateful that she will continue to be a
part of our ASB community!
In
last week’s envelope you saw the registration forms for the after-school
foreign language classes that will begin next month. We’ve had a great response
to this opportunity. Our plan is to continue this program next year as well.
This program has happened because of the commitment and vision of three ASB
parents, Mary Baylor, Janie DiMartino, and Michelle Summers. Mary came to me
last year to offer her time organizing this program. Janie and Michelle
responded to our requests for more help. Together they have done the leg work
to hire teachers and put together this trial session. Many thanks to the entire
team!
On
February 26 at 7:00 p.m., ASB parents are invited to join Villa parents in the
parlor at
May
these weeks of Lent be a time of continued spiritual growth for you and your
family!
Kathi Hand
January
15, 2008
Dear
ASB families,
So
far 2008 is keeping us on our toes! I hope that you were all able to get around
safely on Tuesday. In my letter today, I’d like to update you on a variety of
topics.
At
the top of my list is security. As you know from last week’s email, we had an
unfortunate situation last Wednesday when one of our 8th graders was
chased on her way to school. Many of you forwarded my email to friends and
neighbors, and I had numerous responses; several people claimed to have seen a
man matching the description over the last several weeks. It is likely that
this man lives in the neighborhood. He is a person with some mental challenges,
and he has not been violent or harmful. I will keep you posted if I learn
anything new. In the meantime, we need to be vigilant and continue to teach our
children how to keep themselves safe.
A
parent asked last week if it’s possible to have an adult walk with students
going to Art Wizards at Bryant after school on Fridays. If your child
participates in Art Wizards, and you’d be willing to walk with students, please
let me know.
Last
week, we also discovered that six laptops had been stolen from the faculty
room. This theft was not related to the other incident. The computers are
insured. Of course, we are re-examining all of our security procedures in the
light of this experience.
On
a different note, we sent out letters last week to all of the families who had
applied for kindergarten in 2008-2009. With 38 siblings coming to kindergarten,
it is a challenging year for new families. We currently have 26 families on our
waiting list, 15 of them parishioners at Assumption or St. Bridget. While it is
gratifying to see that so many people want to be a part of our community, it is
also difficult to see some of them disappointed. I know that many of you have
friends and relatives among them—I hope you will encourage them to be
persistent! Changes do happen over time.
Finally,
many of you have been praying for Robert, our crossing guard on 65th.
Before Christmas, Robert was hospitalized. He had a serious infection, which
resulted in the amputation of a toe. He also had surgery to improve a blockage
in his heart. He has had a rough time, but I’m happy to report that he is at
home. Robert is retiring from his post, and his wife Judy has taken his place.
Robert and Judy have appreciated all of the prayers and good wishes that
they’ve received from ASB families. Robert told John Joynt that “he never knew
he had so many friends.” This is another reminder that each of us can truly
make a difference in the lives that we touch.
You’re
welcome to join us Friday at 2:00 p.m. for a prayer service in the gym, led by
8B, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy to our nation.
Kathi Hand
January 9, 2008
Dear ASB families,
Happy New Year to all of you! I hope that the holiday was a time of joy
for you and your families. Here we are in the new year,
starting with fresh energy.
I want to thank everyone who responded to our last-minute plea for
blankets, donated to St. Martin de Porres in memory
of Alycia Allen Long, the high school director at Forest
Ridge. We know all too well what the Forest Ridge community is experiencing
after her sudden death. Please continue to keep them and her family in your
prayers.
This week we have welcomed Dorothy McGinley to our school. Dorothy
arrived last week from
Today I also have to tell you that Diane Kocer, our development
director, has accepted a new position with the AGC Education Foundation. Though
this is a loss for us, it is a wonderful opportunity for Diane. She will
continue working here for the next several weeks, so that we can have a smooth
transition to a new director. We are in the process of advertising this
position now. I know that you all join me in thanking Diane for many years of
work here and in wishing her well in this new venture!
Next Tuesday, Jan. 15, Detective Malinda Wilson, from the Seattle Police
Department’s Internet Crimes against Children Task Force, will be speaking to
our students in grades five through eight about staying safe on the internet.
She will also speak to parents that night at 7:00 p.m. at St. Bridget’s. I
encourage you to attend. This is an important topic for all of us. Feel free to
invite parents from other schools. Thank you to Lori Landes for arranging this
opportunity. (See the flyer in today’s envelope for more details.)
May we all have the eyes to recognize the blessings in this new year, as well as the faith and courage with which to
face its challenges!
Kathi Hand
November, 28, 2007
Dear ASB families,
I hope that you all enjoyed a peaceful and relaxing Thanksgiving
vacation. It was a treat to have so many grandparents and grandfriends
join us last Monday. So many visitors commented about how impressed they were
with the students’ work and behavior. Thank you for your help in making this
year’s Grandparents’/Grandfriends’ Day such a
success!
Of course, the end of Thanksgiving vacation means that our annual
auction can’t be far behind. This week our auction leadership team, Ann O’Neil,
Kay MacVicar, Stephanie Judy, and Barb Bender, together with the amazing team
that they have assembled, are busy putting together “Adventures Unlimited.”
It’s magical to see it all come together. Our school relies on this auction for
a significant share of our operating budget, and I know that everyone is doing
all they can to make this year’s event more successful than ever! I look
forward to seeing many of you at the auction on Saturday. If you’re unable to
attend, you’ll find information in today’s envelope about how you can support
Fund-an-Item and our school Wish List. This is also the time to coordinate your
bids for group dinners, class parties, and other group events. If you haven’t
seen the catalog yet, check it out on our website. You’ll see much more auction
info in today’s envelope. Thank you in advance for your generous support.
Early December also brings kindergarten applications for next year. Our
survey earlier this fall shows that we have 39 families with siblings entering
kindergarten next fall. Applications are due on December 7. It’s
very important that your applications are submitted on time, signed by
Fr. Oliver or Denny Duffell if you are parishioners
at Assumption or St. Bridget.
On the other side of this letter, you’ll see a letter from the ASB
Governance Council that confirms the admissions priority for all current
families, regardless of their parish affiliation. The Governance Council is
made up of equal numbers of representatives from both parishes. The Governance
Council advises parish leadership about major policy issues for
This Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent. As always, we will gather for
prayer in the gym at 8:40 every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during these
weeks of Advent. You are always welcome to join us!
Here’s to a successful auction! Thank you for all you do for our school
and parishes.
Kathi Hand
November 7, 2007
Dear ASB
families,
Yesterday we
celebrated the one-year anniversary of Mike Foy’s death. We all gathered
outside the front of the school to plant a tree in his memory. It’s a beautiful
dove tree, named for its large white flowers that resemble the wings of doves.
It is such a fitting memorial to Mike, who loved to garden and saw the hand of
God in the changes of the garden’s seasons. You will hear more about other
memorials to Mike as time goes on, including initiatives to raise money for
school libraries in Namitembo and to publish Mike’s
letters.
Most important of
all, though, are the living memorials, the many lives that have been impacted
by Mike. This is fitting time to rededicate ourselves to building the city of
e
Do
what is right.
e
Make
sure people have what they need.
e
Treat
people with gentleness and kindness.
e
Say
we’re sorry.
e
Assume
the best about one another’s motivations.
e
Look
for God in each other.
e
Be
grateful for the blessings we have been given.
That is the most
powerful way that we can honor Mike’s memory and keep his spirit alive at
Thank you for
your prayers and support over this past year. It was wonderful to see so many
of you at Mass last night. I especially want to thank all of the faculty and
staff for their work on these anniversary celebrations. They continue to
embrace Mike’s vision and to follow his example of faith and service. We are
all blessed that they are here.
On the back of
this letter is a message from Mike’s family. His daughter
May this month of
November be a time of gratitude and blessings to you.
A
Message from the Foy Family
Delivered
by Kathleen Foy Conklin
November
6, 2007
On behalf of our
family, thank you. Thank you to each of
you for the unbelievable support you have given us during the last year. And thank you for being
here today.
In one of his
last school letters, our dad wrote about being a member of the Assumption-St.
Bridget community and he wrote “I really find life being here.” So do we. We find life in the many cards and letters we
received after he died. Letters that
described the many characteristics of Dad that we so loved, and it is
comforting to know that others felt the same.
Thank you for your words, your honesty, your thoughts and emotions, and
for sharing all of that with us.
We find life in
the overwhelming generosity that has been extended to us over the last
year. Thank you to the
countless families that provided us with a delicious meal, helping us to
continue in our tradition of family dinners; a tradition very close to our
Dad’s heart. Thank you to the
hours of garden maintenance at our parents’ house. Thank you to those who provided outside
Christmas decoration last year, truly brightening our holidays. We find life in all of those incredible
gestures.
We find life in
the Assumption-St.Bridget community. Thank you so very much. I know that each member of my family can
truly understand why our dad found life being here. Thank you to the parents, who continue to
support his vision and mission of education.
Thank you to the students; you meant more to him than you could ever
know.
Thank you so very
much to the amazing faculty and staff.
In one letter our dad wrote, “I am taking a moment to show my
appreciation for the outstanding individuals and professional community with
whom I am privileged to work each day.
After thirty-plus years and many faculties, I know how blessed we are
here today.” Thank you to each of you
for all you have done and all you continue to do. Thank you in particular to the group that
finished the remodel of the living room at our parents’ house – what a wonderful
gift that was.
And, a special
thank you to two people in particular.
Marilu Byrne, you were truly a godsend to us last year. I have told Marilu this but would like to
share this story with the rest of you.
On this day last year, as we sat at the hospital and learned the
devastating news of our dad’s passing, my mom said, “We need someone. We need help.” Literally, at that moment Marilu walked in
and answered that prayer. Thank you for
everything you did for us Marilu – there are no words to describe how much it
meant.
The other person
is Kathi Hand. Kathi, you have been a
source of light for our family. We have
all talked about how many little things we each experienced prior to our dad’s
death that, when we look back on them, demonstrate to us that without a doubt
God was working in our lives. As I was
reading through my dad’s last letter to this community, I was struck by the
fact that you, Kathi, were the first focal point in it. His mission to spread the message of
solidarity was centered on you and all of the wonderful work you do. He must have just known. Thank you for your commitment not only to
this school and community, but also to our family and to our dad; who he was
and what he did.
I cannot express
enough what all of you and all you have done has meant to our family. And I am not as good with words as our dad
was, so I am going to end with his words.
On September 7, 2005 he wrote, “Thank you for all that you do and will
do. The strength of our community is
what it is because we have so many people who ‘pray like everything depends on
them and work like everything depends on God’ (St. Ignatius). That saying is incorrectly reversed at
times. This way it says that we can
accomplish what we are called to do when we listen to God and allow the Spirit
to fill us and to energize us to accomplish heroic things, large and
small. We need to believe so that we can
do it.”
October 24, 2007
Dear ASB
families,
As you know, this
week we are taking time from our regular school routine for conferences among
parents, teachers, and in most cases, students. Conferences allow for teachers
and parents to focus in, even for a short time, on an individual child’s
progress. This is a great opportunity for all involved to learn how they can
best support students in school this year. Thank you for making the time to
come in and for sharing your compliments, questions
and concerns openly and productively. I especially want to recognize the time
and energy that teachers put into progress reports and conferences at this time
of year. Their commitment to your children is amazing!
In their Spanish
classes, the 7th graders are learning about the Day of the Dead
traditions. They are each creating their own ofrendas, the traditional Day of
the Dead altars. The students suggested that this would be an appropriate way
to remember Mike Foy as we approach the anniversary of his death. Beginning
next week, you’ll see an ofrenda
taking shape in the front hall. The 7th graders will take the
leadership in this, and other classes will be invited to add items as they
choose.
As you know, next
week we also celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. This is a fitting
time to remember all the people we love who have died and whose legacy we
carry. Also in the front hall will be a large tree. Students will be invited to
write the names of loved ones who have died on the leaves, which will be tied
into the tree. Additional leaves will also be available for anyone else in the
community who would like to remember friends and family in this way. On the
Feast of All Saints, students in grades 2 through 8 will attend the 9:00 Mass.
Kindergarteners and first graders will have a special celebration at 1:15 p.m.
Many of you have
asked me what we are planning to commemorate the anniversary of Mike’s death on
November 6. We will celebrate Mike’s life and legacy with a Eucharistic liturgy
at St. Bridget’s at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome to join the Foy family, St.
Bridget Parish, and our school community. Details about other events will be
forthcoming. Today, October 24, is Mike’s birthday. I would ask your prayers
especially for his family on this day.
Blessings to you,
Kathi Hand
September 26,
2007
Dear ASB
families,
It was wonderful
to see so many of you at our 60th anniversary celebrations. I found
it especially gratifying to see how many people are connected to this community
and how it remains a vital part of people’s lives, all due to the relationships
that have been built here over the years. The Italian dinner on Saturday
evening was a great party, with alumni from every decade. And Sunday was a
fabulous community event, beginning with a beautiful liturgy.
So many people
made the celebrations happen. I especially want to thank Anne Quigg for leading
the way and doing everything to make it a great party. Thank you, too, to Diane
Kocer and Molly Johnson, for their attention to so many details; to Linda Reid,
Kathy Kane, and Robin Hendricks, for planning the Sunday liturgy; to the
readers, musicians, and other ministers at Mass; to Chris McCarthy for music
both Saturday night and Sunday (yes, you can hire him for your next party!); to
Varlamos for terrific food; to Christine Henn for
organizing Sunday activities; to Damian Davis for wine on Saturday night; to
Sherry Shefts for the anniversary cake; to the master
grillers, bar tenders, and everyone else who pitched in to help; and especially
to our faculty and staff for their support and presence.
As we celebrate
our past, we also look to the future. At least a dozen people have approached
me over the last two weeks to tell me that they’ve heard there are over 40
siblings coming into kindergarten next year. Actually, I’ve heard numbers
ranging from 31 to 47. In today’s envelope, you’ll see a half sheet asking you
if you have children who will be entering ASB in the next three years. Please
return the slip promptly so that we can have correct information about incoming
kindergarteners and so that we can market our kindergarten appropriately!
At Mass on
Sunday, Fr. Oliver mentioned the Fulcrum Foundation’s current campaign.
Fulcrum’s mission is to provide tuition assistance for families who cannot
afford full tuition, to provide assistance to schools in need, and to promote
excellence in Catholic schools. Fulcrum does important work for all schools
throughout the archdiocese. If you have not already pledged to their endowment
campaign, I encourage you to consider making a pledge. All families should have
received information by now. If you want to learn more, check their website at www.fulcrumfoundation.org.
I’ll end with our
prayer for this week: “Creator God, all we have is a gift from you. Help us always
try to know you more fully, to love you more deeply, and to serve you more
generously.
Amen!
Kathi
Hand
September 12,
2007
Dear ASB
families,
Hopefully you
have noticed the beautiful new landscaping at the front entrance of the school.
Tom McNulty (father of Hannah, grade 3) has put in a great deal of time this
summer to help with this project. Martha Keck (mother of Corky and John, proud
ASB alum and owner of Martha Keck Design, Inc.) has donated the plants. We are
so grateful for their help in making this part of our school beautiful and
welcoming!
Tonight
(kindergarten through grade 5) and next Tuesday (grades 6 through 8), we
welcome you to Curriculum Night. We will begin all together in the gym. After
this general session, you will move to classrooms, where teachers will present
an overview of their curriculum, expectations, and procedures for the year.
This is an important night, and we hope that everyone will be able to attend.
Please arrive in the gym on time so that we can finish the classroom sessions
at a reasonable hour.
It seems that
traffic is a never-ending frustration in our community and neighborhood. In the
first week of school, we’ve had one neighbor who couldn’t get out of her
driveway to take her kids to school, at least two narrowly-averted head-on
collisions, dogs coming out the car doors at teachers, and calls from Bryant
parents complaining about how rudely they were treated by ASB parents. In
today’s envelope, you’ll see some traffic reminders from Marilu Byrne. Please
take this information to heart. Our priority is the safety of your children.
You help us by following the plan, staying aware of the pedestrians and cars
around you, and treating others with consideration. Remember, coming a little
bit later can help both your frustration level and our traffic!
Father Owen spent
the day at our school yesterday. He had a chance to talk with all of the
children to tell them about life in
Have a great
week!
Kathi
Hand
September 5, 2007
Dear ASB families,
Welcome to this new school year. While it’s helpful to have some quiet
time in the summer to get ourselves organized, the school isn’t complete until
the students arrive! It was great to see everyone back yesterday, ready for the
new year.
Last week our faculty and staff spent four days in in-service sessions,
with topics ranging from training on the new SMARTBoards
to expanding our repertoire of strategies for meeting individual students’
learning needs. Last Monday we spent some time looking to the future. The
students entering kindergarten today will graduate from high school in 2020.
When
e
A mature understanding of their faith and the ability
to put that faith into action
e
A global perspective and understanding of other
cultures
e
Awareness of major social and environmental issues
e
Critical thinking skills and the ability to think
for themselves
e
Ethical thinking skills and the ability to make
wise decisions
e
Compassion and empathy for others, and good manners
e
Strong communication skills
e
Adaptability, flexibility, and patience
e
Physical and mental well-being
e
Willingness to take risks without fear of failure
and mistakes
e
The ability to deal with negative emotions in
appropriate, productive ways
For all of us, teachers and parents alike, the important question
becomes, “How do we model these skills and qualities and nurture them in our
children?” That’s the question that we are reflecting upon as we begin this
school year.
You may have noticed the beautiful trees near the front entrance of the
school. Tom McNulty has put in a lot of time this summer to get us started
landscaping that area. You will see more work there over the next two weeks,
Thank you, Tom!
I look forward to seeing all of you at our Curriculum Nights, September
12 for grades K-5, and September 18 for grades 6-8. These are important times
for us to gather as a community and for you to hear from your child’s teacher.
Please plan to attend.
Thanks for supporting the gift wrap sale. We count on that money for our
operating budget. Your efforts make a BIG difference! Special thanks to our
chairs, Sheila McKannay and Elaine Say, for all they are doing to make this a
success.
Please be sure to return the information for the school roster as
directed in the newsletter. This will help us produce the roster in a timely
fashion. Thanks for your attention to all of these details.
Kathi
Hand
August 13, 2007
Dear ASB
families,
It’s hard to
believe that it’s already the middle of August. Before you know it, we’ll be
welcoming everyone back to school! Many people are working hard to get
everything ready. The school building looks great, SMARTBoards
are installed in all of the classrooms, and we have new doors on the original
school building, thanks to the fund-an-item donors at our last auction. I hope
that all of you are finding time to recharge yourselves and spend time with the
people and activities that feed your souls.
This year, in
addition to welcoming our new kindergarteners and other new students and their
families, we are excited to welcome several new staff members. Anne Wheeldon, our new 2nd grade
teacher, comes to us from St. Alphonsus School, and
Abby Drake, our new 8th grade teacher, comes from
I want to say a
special thank you to the teams who have been working hard to ensure successful
fund-raising for ASB this year. Our gift
wrap chairs, Sheila McKannay and Elaine Say, are ready to kick off a successful
sale. Sales packets will be available for pick-up in the front hall anytime
after August 27. Our auction team, Kay MacVicar, Ann O’Neil, Barb Bender, and
Stephanie Judy, have a great team of volunteers assembled; I hope you’ll find a
way to get involved in this important community event. You’ll also find an
update from our scrip team; let’s all look for new ways to support scrip so
that we can have an even more successful year!
We have 106 ASB
families signed up to pay tuition through automatic deduction. It’s not too
late to join them—call Kathryn in the school office (ext.41) to request the
paperwork.
Hopefully you all
have September 22-23 set aside for our 60th anniversary celebration.
Reservations are needed for the adults-only Italian dinner on Saturday night.
Families are welcome for the Sunday celebration. Watch for our summer
newsletter for more information and a reservation form.
Also enclosed in
today’s mailing is the updated school calendar. I want to call your attention
to the activities during the week before school starts. These activities help
your children make a smooth transition into this new school year.
Fri.,
August 24: Class lists posted
(after 4:00 p.m.)
Thurs.,
August 30: All students welcome to
meet teachers 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Orientation for 6th grade students and parents 6:30 p.m.
Orientation
for kindergarten parents 7:00 p.m.
Here’s to some
more lazy days of summer in these next few weeks! Enjoy them all. I look
forward to seeing each of you on the first day of school!
Kathi
Hand