August 29, 2008
We are delighted that the opening of school has gone so smoothly. Most of the girls have really done an excellent job of getting into the routine. They are feeling comfortable in the classrooms, enjoying their friends, and getting to know their teachers. It can be challenging for some of them some of the time, but they are getting there.
Yesterday, the Little Hearts and Preschool students attended a "blessings" chapel. Mrs. Higginbotham talked about the importance of our year and asked each girl to remember that her "job" this year is to be a good student and that the "job description" can be found in the words of our Sacred Heart prayer: to love as You love, study and learn, help those who need me, be a friend to all, and make wise choices. She then used holy water to bless Mrs. Villeré, who in turn blessed the teachers, who then blessed each of their students. The girls were captivated by the candles and the songs. They were reverent and attentive-joyful, too!
This morning the Prek and K girls attended the Mass of the Holy Spirit with the older girls to ask God's blessing on our school and school year. This is always such a great community-building event. We also took a moment to ring the Katrina Bell of Remembrance, a gift sent to Sacred Heart and to the City of New Orleans following the events of August 29, 2005. The bell is from Bells of Remembrance Project, organized by the Franciscan Center of Wilmington Delaware, and came to us because of our affiliation with the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. As one gazed out at an assembly of smocks, jumpers, skirts, and blazers it was easy to see-and feel-the scope of Sacred Heart education in our Rosary and Mater campus worlds. And joining us for the liturgy were Madeleine Ortman, Executive Director of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, and Sr. Annet Nankusu, RSCJ, former principal of our Sacred Heart school in Uganda. No two people could more appropriately represent the global world of Sacred Heart. It was a great way to get off to a great start!
Reminder: There is no school on Labor Day, Monday, September 1.
Hurricane Gustav Update:
At this point, we are still uncertain about the path of Hurricane Gus. We ask that you use the following methods to stay abreast of the latest news regarding school closing/opening or other important information:
- WWL-AM radio (87.0)
- SchoolReach (the telephone broadcast system that enables us to notify all households and parents by phone)
- www.ashrosary.org (the school website)
Manners of the Month - September:
Throughout her years at Sacred Heart, we want your daughter to become self-assured about herself and her abilities. Naturally, this includes helping her to grow academically, but it also involves helping her to become self-confident in other ways. Manners of the Month is a way for us to focus on behaviors that will help your daughter in her ability to handle social situations and to develop positive relationships with others.
This month we ask her to Make eye contact and say "Good Morning." It can be very difficult for a little one to look into the eyes of adult when speaking or being spoken to, and is a life-skill that must be practiced. We smile and greet your daughter each morning, and ask that she return the greeting. This little step will go a long way in helping her to become a confident young woman. We ask that you help us by reinforcing this behavior at home.
Class Newsletters:
Enclosed with this Childpost is your daughter's class newsletter. Each month's edition will give you details about the program of studies and the activities planned for her grade. This is a great starting point for you to engage your daughter in conversation about everything that is happening at school. You will be surprised-and amazed!-about all that she is learning.
Breakfast of Champions:
Please make sure your daughter has a healthy breakfast before she arrives at school. This may mean getting up a few minutes earlier, but the result will be well worth the effort. The American Dietetic Association reports that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It fuels the body to help provide energy, better concentration, and problem-solving ability. Our teachers who attended the Learning Brain Expo national conference this summer reiterated to us that breakfast is the first chance the body has to refuel glucose levels, and that glucose is essential for "brain power." So, too, glucose helps to fuel the muscles needed for physical activity throughout the day. Let's get those brains warmed up every morning!
Arrival Time:
For the early birds: We remind you that according to the school handbook, we cannot be responsible for your Preschool daughter until 7:15 a.m. or your Little Hearts daughter until 7:30 a.m., even if our police officer is outside or a teacher or staff member is in the lobby. We are happy to have you remain in your car or to wait in the reception area with her until that time.
For those who are not so early: Please remember that the school day begins at 8:00 for your N-PK-K daughter. It's important for her to be able to greet her classmates and get "settled in" before circle time begins, and during circle the teacher gives general instruction and directions about the program of the day. We urge you to have your daughter here on time.
Noon Dismissal for Nursery:
Beginning on Tuesday, September 2, we ask any who picks up a Nursery student at noon to use the carpool line or wait outside the gate for your daughter. The Nursery teachers walk the girls to the gate area for dismissal. We're helping your daughter build independence and self-confidence!
After School Activities:
Most after-school activities will begin next week; however Art begins on Monday, September 8 (because of Labor Day). Lab Rats begins on October 23.
Cafeteria Notes for N-PK-K:
- Enclosed with this Childpost is the cafeteria menu for September. Please check it each day and decide if your daughter would like a hot lunch. Please note that N girls may only choose white or chocolate milk. A PK or K student may receive milk as part of the cost of lunch or choose juice (.50) or water (.50) for an additional charge.
- For those who bring lunch, please send a juice box, not a sippy cup. If you deposited funds into a cafeteria account for your daughter to buy milk/juice/water, please send a note to her teacher. The teachers have no way of knowing what monies were sent to the Archdiocese.
- If your daughter has her lunch box with her, the teachers will serve her the lunch that you send.
- If your daughter has a food allergy and cannot eat certain items served in the cafeteria, please have her physician complete a food allergy form (available from Ms. Veal, the cafeteria manager) and fax it from the physician's office to the number noted on the form.
All-School Newspaper Drive:
The Middle School Recycling Club sponsors a newspaper drive at the beginning of every month. On Friday, September 5, you may drop off newspapers behind the Rosary Campus on Carondelet Street (under the bridge).
Speech, Language, Hearing, Vision Screenings:
Also enclosed with this Childpost is a letter from the New Orleans Speech and Hearing Center (NOSHC) for N-PK-K students. We are happy to offer screenings, and hope that you will take advantage of this service. Most people think of this screening just in terms of the component related to speech/articulation (mispronounced sounds in words and conversations), but NOSHC screens for a variety of communication disorders:
- Language comprehension-difficulty following directions; understanding sentence structure; problems with spatial, temporal or descriptive concepts
- Language production-difficulty labeling objects, describing pictures, answering questions appropriately; relating information in a sequential and cohesive manner; using age-appropriate grammar and sentence structure
- Hearing
- Vision
The earlier a problem is detected, the easier it is to correct. Please complete the attached form and return it with your check made out to NOSHC by Wednesday, September 10. The Toddler girls are too young to be accurately screened; however, if you have any serious concerns, please talk to your daughter's teacher or to Mrs. Villeré.
Little Hearts and Preschool
September 2008
|
Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
|
|
1
Labor Day-no school |
2
Classes resume
After-school programs begin |
3
2:15 dismissal
Faculty Meeting |
4 |
5
All-school newspaper drive (RC) |
6 |
|
7 |
8 |
9 |
10
·NOSHC forms/checks due
·2:15 dismissal
Faculty Meeting
·7:00 New Parents Reception (RC-AR) |
11
Wrapping paper orders due |
12 |
13 |
|
14 |
15 |
16 |
17
·8:00 Mothers' Club Meeting (RC-AR)
·2:15 dismissal
Faculty Meeting
·5:00 Fathers' Club Meeting (RC-DH)
|
18
7:00 p.m."Paint the City Pink" Volleyball for the Cure (Newman gym) |
19 |
20 |
|
21 |
22 |
23
NOSHC
screening |
24
NOSHC screening
2:15 dismissal
Faculty Meeting
|
25
NOSHC screening
|
26
Class pictures and individual picture re-takes |
27 |
|
28 |
29 |
30 |
|
|
|
RC=Rosary Campus
MC=Mater Campus
DH=Dining Hall
AR=Assembly Room |
