Childpost

August 22, 2008

Back-to-School Edition

Welcome back! Welcome home! The beginning of the year is full of emotion-always interesting, and very often inspiring. Teachers arrive energized and armed with innovative ideas and renewed enthusiasm for working with a new group of girls. Students arrive in fresh uniforms and new shoes, animated and excited, ready to tackle the thrills, as well as the demands, of a new grade level. This week we've experienced it all. Thank you for sharing your daughters with us. We are delighted to be up and running and look forward to a wonderful year together.

What in the World is Childpost?

For those who are new, this Childpost is the first of our communications with you. Students in Little Hearts and Preschool receive an envelope and weekly Childpost newsletter (which includes the next week's calendar) every Friday. This is one of our most important communication tools. The envelope may also contain some of your daughter's work, and we ask you to thoughtfully and lovingly look through it, talk to her about it, and praise her for her effort. Also included is any information you may need or that we would like to share with you. We ask that you read it and keep it handy. We have lots of activities, special dress days, etc., and by reading and referring to it you will always know what is going on. Please return the empty envelope in your daughter's book bag each Monday. Lost your issue? You can easily access it via the school website: Go to www.ashrosary.org, then click on Childpost (under News Links).

Staying Connected:

We want you to stay abreast about everything that is happening at Sacred Heart. In addition to Childpost, we have several other ways to keep you informed:

The school website, www.ashrosary.org., includes up-to-date calendars, lunch menus, and forms, as well as information about school policies, programs, and procedures. You must register on the website so you will receive important updates and information. In these days of instant access, we are finding that we are using technology more and more. We ask you to check the website often for information.
Email is another way to keep in touch with teachers and other families about school matters.
The school directory, is included with today's Childpost. If you have a change or correction, please send a dated, written note to school. An addendum is emailed to all parents every month.
Phone calls and face-to-face conversations are always welcome! We never want to give up the human touch.

Handbook Signature Cards:

If you have not yet done so, on Monday please return the signature card that was included in your daughter's handbook and given to you at Parent Night. The deadline is today, August 22.

Extended Day (ED) and ASH PLUS:

Little Hearts: ED and ASH PLUS begin on Monday, August 25.
Preschool: ASH PLUS begins on Monday, August 25.
ED students will be dismissed from the regular carpool location on General Pershing. LH/PS ASH PLUS students will be dismissed from the LH yard (at the entrance to the school) or from the first classroom as you enter the building.

School Pictures:

School pictures were taken yesterday and today for Little Hearts and Preschool. If your daughter was absent, re-takes and class pictures are scheduled for the end of September.

Mass of the Holy Spirit:

Next Friday, August 29, students from PK-12 will participate in the Mass of the Holy Spirit. This annual event is a way for our school community to come together to ask God's blessings on our work and play during the school year, and helps us to live out Goals I (faith) and IV (building of community) of Sacred Heart education. We are planning to have the liturgy in the Nims Center; however, if the painters have not finished their work there, we will gather in the gym on the Rosary Campus. Should that occur, our morning carpool Dads on Duty will help us walk to the other campus.

The Importance of a Routine:

Establishing a routine for our young students is especially important. We ask that you help us by setting up a morning and evening routine at home and by making every effort to adhere to it. Your daughter will feel more secure if she knows what to expect each day. Saying goodbye in the morning is much easier for everyone if you have a plan and stick to it.

A Word About Book Bags and Notes:

Your daughter should bring her ASH book bag to school each day. Please make sure her first and last name is on it. We ask you to check her bag everyday. We pin important notes for you to the outside of the bag; please do the same when you have a note for us. If you are sending a note to school, please make certain that it is dated and includes your child's first and last name (as well as yours), and the name of her homeroom teacher.

All About Lunch (N-PK-K only):

Forms:
Enclosed with this Childpost is information for N-PK-K from the Archdiocesan School Food and Nutrition Services of New Orleans, Inc. regarding the free/reduced lunch program. If you qualify and would like to participate, please return this form to school.

Volunteers:
Serving as a Lunch Line Volunteer (PK-K only) is a nice way for you to visit with your daughter during the school day. Lunch runs from 11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. We ask you to volunteer no more than one time per week and plan to stay to help with all the lunch shifts. If your daughter is having a few separation problems, please wait until later in the school year to help. Doran Roemershauser chairs this Mothers' Club Committee. Please contact her (Droemers@cox.net) if you are interested. A flyer is included with this Childpost.

Cafeteria News:
If your N-PK-K daughter plans to eat a cafeteria lunch, please make sure that she has funds posted to her cafeteria account. You may send a check to school and we will forward it to the cafeteria. Make the check payable to Archdiocese of New Orleans School Lunch Program. If you have any questions, please contact Andrea Veal, the cafeteria manager (891-2926).

August Menu:
N-PK-K students have the August menu included with today's Childpost.

Wrapping Paper Orders:

Each year the junior class sells wrapping paper to generate the funds needed to support their junior/senior class activities (junior/senior prom, ring dance, etc). In addition, a portion of the total goes to one of the divisions of the school (PS in 2008!). The homeroom teachers distributed order forms on Parent Night. The procedure has changed this year, and you are asked to go online to place your order. If you would like to participate, we ask you to follow the instructions, and return payment to school by the Friday, September 11, deadline.

Thank You.

To all who attended the Little Hearts/Preschool Parent Night on Monday. The home-school partnership is so important, and we appreciate your enthusiasm and interest. Thank you to parents Cecilia (and husband, Jeff) Domangue for coordinating the refreshments for the Mothers' Club, and to Nicole Ciaccio for helping at the welcome table.

Next Week:

Sunday

Aug. 24

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Extended Day begins

LH/PS ASH PLUS begins

2:15 Dismissal-Faculty meetings

8:30 Mass of the Holy Spirit

Enclosures:

2008-2009 ASH School Directory
Archdiocesan Food Service and Nutrition forms (N-PK-K only)
Lunch Line Volunteers (PK-K only)
August Dining Hall Menu (N-PK-K only)