Click Here to download the Middle School Newsletter and view the prepartory August calendar.
August 2008
Preparatory News
Let us pray to the Holy Spirit to guide us, then we will act on the Spirit's gentle inspiration. Let us accustom ourselves to walking in these divine paths, following grace and not nature. When we go too fast it is easy to be influenced by the second. Ah! It is a great art to act only by the Spirit of Jesus St. Madeleine Sophie Barat
Welcome back!
I am so excited to have the 08/09 school year upon us! Summer seems to have passed by in a flash because of the activity up on the third floor. Mrs.O'Keefe and I have been preparing for this year, while Frank and Joseph from our maintenance staff have been extremely helpful in getting things fixed up, spruced up and ready for the August 18th start. Faculty members have dropped in to visit and to work in their classrooms, and new Prep families have stopped in to pick up the summer math books and reading lists. So, while we have not had usual school year day to day excitement of the students, Mrs. O'Keefe and I have taken time for some delightful conversations with our visitors.
Upon your return to school you will notice some freshly painted walls and polished floors, a huge world map in Rosary Hall, as well as some new and renewed furniture in Rosary Hall. The Walter Anderson prints are now on the main hall, and the trophy cabinet now houses trophies along with the test calendar. Several classrooms have new desks and many classrooms now have SmartBoards, interactive whiteboards. Additional lockers have been added on the main hall and on the back hall.
Fixing up the physical area is always exciting, but adding new faculty members is a wonderful aspect of a new school year. In the Preps we have made a few changes: Sue Heidel has moved to the Academics division (Upper School) and Anne Seiler is taking over as Director of Student Activities and will teach 2nd and 4th Prep (6th and 8th grade) P.E. Jennifer Gaisser-Sadler is taking over as Campus Minister and will teach 2nd and 4th Prep (6th and 8th grade) Religion. Clare Ryan also joins us as Campus Minister and will teach 1st and 3rd Prep (5th and 7th grade) Religion. Laurie Simons joins us as the Prep Music teacher and will lead the Avenue Singers. Kim Rigg joins us as the 2nd and 3rd Prep (6th and 7th grade) Science teacher, and Julie Thomas joins us as the 1st and 3rd Prep (5th and 7th grade) P.E. teacher. I am very happy to have all of these professionals join the Prep division and work with your daughters, and I know you will join me in offering each a warm Sacred Heart welcome.
Another exciting aspect of the new school year is welcoming new students to the Sacred Heart family. Joining us in 1st Prep: Sarah Dawson, Olivia Higbee, Emily Heinrich, Ashley Garrido, Emma Carville and Laura Bruce. We are thrilled to have Avery Hardie re-join the class. Joining us in 2nd Prep: Claudia Hurtado, Carolina Avila, and Elle Lovick. Joining us in 4th Prep: Ariel Vallotton, Grace Kovach, Allison Caldwell, Katie Escousse, and Matty Carville. Welcome to all of our new Sacred Heart girls!!!!!!
A few updates, reminders and notes...
- In June I had the privilege of attending a conference sponsored by The Network of Sacred Heart Schools in St Charles, MO. An excellent keynote speech about Madeleine Sophie Barat was given by Connie Solari of our Atherton, CA school and is posted on the sofie.org website. It is worth reading!
- You will note on the attached calendar that there is a date change for the New Parents' Reception. The reception is now scheduled for Wednesday, September 10 at 7:00 pm in the Assembly Room. New parents, please mark your calendar, so you can join us that evening!
- Since email is the primary means of communication for the Preps as well as the entire school, please contact Mrs O'Keefe and the Development Office if you know of someone who is not receiving email from us. We need to ensure that each family receives our communications. Your assistance is appreciated!
- The New Student Orientation and Lunch on Wednesday, August 13th is a time for students new to Sacred Heart to meet with the Prep Student Council members and Ms Seiler. It is a casual event to help orient students to what it means to be a part of a Sacred Heart school and to be a member of the Preps division. The event is from 11:30 - 1:00, and pizza lunch will be provided.
- The Drop In-Drop Off time for the 1st Prep (5th grade) students is scheduled for Wednesday, August 13th anytime between 1:00-3:00. This is also a casual event, and it allows our youngest students an opportunity to bring their books, supplies, and any locker treasures they have up to the 3rd floor with the help of a parent, significant adult, or adult friend. The girls will receive their locker assignment and their homeroom assignment. We did find that last years' 1st Preps appreciated the opportunity to have assistance with getting all of the books, etc. up three flights of stairs and to organize the locker before the first official day of school. However, this event is not mandatory, so if your summer plans do not allow for a visit with us on the 13th, please do not be alarmed. This is just an offering. Please feel free to give me a call, if you have additional questions or concerns.
- The ASH bookstore will be open on Wednesday, August 13th and Thursday, August 14th from 9:00 - 3:00 and Friday, August 15th from 9:00 - noon for families to purchase polo shirts, uniform socks, dress uniform V-neck sweater, PE clothes, school planners and anything else needed to begin the school year. There are several colors to choose from when purchasing polos. Please be sure to purchase at least one white polo for dress uniform days. The dress uniform including the white polo and V neck sweater will be required for the all school Mass of the Holy Spirit on Friday, August 29th.
- There is a date change for the Spring Parent-Teacher-Student conference. Instead of the March 19th date on the calendar, the conference day will be Thursday, March 12th. Please mark your calendar... March 19th will be a regular school day (Day 1) and March 12th will be conference day.
- Attached you will find the carpool directions. Please read this information before August 18th. If you have any questions about the procedure, please call the Prep (MS) Office.
Reminders....
......The emergency medical form must be returned before your daughter may attend class on the 18th.
......The Prep dismissal form must also be returned before the 18th.
...... Registration is still open for the After School programs. Mondays we offer
Digital Photography, Tuesdays we offer Avenue Singers, Wednesdays we offer
Art, and Thursdays we offer Yoga and Cheerleading. Please contact the Prep
Office if you have misplaced the flyers that were sent out earlier this summer.
I look forward to seeing all of our Preps on the 18th.
Enjoy your last few days of summer!
Kim D. Duckworth
Preparatory Head
Carpool Directives
August 2008
Thank you for your patience and cooperation at after school pickup time. We are confident, however, that the following directives are the safest for our students and in consideration of all those who wait in the carpool line. We thank you in advance for adhering to them.
- The only pickup is on the riverside of Carondelet Street. Due to the long space available on this side of the street, it goes very quickly.
- Continue to approach Carondelet from Valence going in one direction only, toward St. Charles.
- Turn left only from Valence onto Carondelet.
- Drive as far up Carondelet as possible and pick your child up from the riverside curb, not the middle of the street.
- Everyone, even those coming from Mater campus, should approach from Valence, not Cadiz. This is a safety measure. Again, pickup is on Carondelet.
- Currently the line moves very quickly. Those who come a few minutes after 3:30 are able to come down Cadiz without crossing/blocking traffic or cutting into the line. If you come at this time and cars are still waiting in the Carondelet line, please wait until the last car in line has passed Cadiz before turning.
- If you park and walk to get your child, she may go as soon as she sees you on the block.
- If you stop to chat, please stand as far from the curb as possible so the children can walk on the sidewalk, as far away from the curb and the moving cars as possible.
- If your child takes her time, please come a few minutes late rather than hold up a pickup spot.
- If you think you are running a bit late, remember we are outside until 3:45 each day, 3:00 on Wednesday. If you do forget, please do not worry. We all understand. Simply come as soon as your child calls and we will put her in MASH until you arrive
.
- Remember you are in a school zone; there is no need to hurry, especially on Carondelet.
- If you are actually late, your child will be safe in MASH.
- Whenever possible, refrain from talking on your cell phone when the car is moving in the carpool line or when the children are entering the car. We have discovered that conversations at this time are distracting, both for the driver and the children, slowing down the line for those still waiting.
We close, once again, with sincerest gratitude for what we know can be a tense and tedious process each afternoon. Our primary goal is the safety of your daughter and our experience of many years has proven the above guidelines to be those which will ensure safety for your daughter and a speedy process for you. We are grateful for your trust and understanding.
