St. Agnes School
Family Newsletter
September 8, 2010

Mission Statement of Saint Agnes School
Saint Agnes Elementary School strives for excellence in providing a Catholic education that inspires and empowers our students to embrace the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ as compassionate and faithful Christians, who continue to pursue their spiritual journey, their highest academic potential, and stewardship to others.

Thanks to all the parents who came to our Back to School Nights. We hope it was helpful to hear the specifics about junior high last evening. Let’s work together to make it a great school year!!!

Tomorrow’s Visit: Mr. Michael Clines, our diocesan superintendent, will visit our school tomorrow. He is visiting every school to familiarize himself with the schools in the diocese.
Welcome, Mr. Clines!!!

Reminder: Please read the Parent-Student Handbook. It can be found on our website. Pay special attention to the new tuition payment policy, the junior high wildcat card procedure, and of course, uniforms. Please sign and have each of your children, third grade or older, sign that they have read and understand the handbook (Handbook Acceptance Form). Of course, we don’t expect the younger children to read it, but go over appropriate things for their age level. Please send the forms into the school office by Friday if possible. Thank you.

Reminder: If you are coming to school during the school day for any reason (yard duty, classroom help, cafeteria, library help, birthdays, etc.) please enter through the front school doors, and sign in at the school office. All visitors must sign in at the school office….even if we know you. Thanks.

Sixth Grade Academic Team: Just a reminder that there will be a short informational meeting for students and parents about joining the sixth grade academic team on Thursday, September 9 at 2:45 in the school library. Practices will begin next week.  Thanks. Mindy Sucher, the sixth grade coach

Papers Being Sent Home Today:

1. APPLE flyer sent with the youngest child.
2. Miles for Smiles flyer sent with every student.

Someone asked last evening if we were sending home papers this year on Wednesdays. You may notice that we have cut down on the many papers being sent home. Generally if they can be put as a link on this newsletter, we will do it that way. We do this for several reasons:

1. We save money and office time (counting, etc.); and basic ecology.
2. Many attachments don’t make it home to parents, but get lost on the bus, in the school bags, etc. If the information is in a link, then we are sure anyone who reads the newsletter will get the link.

So we think twice before sending papers home. If you are on a committee and really want something sent...we will usually honor your request, but will ask you to count out the papers, forms, etc. before sending them to the school office. We will send them through kidmail. If you need a correct number of students in the classrooms, just call the school office. Of course, we can get a hard copy of anything we send, if you are experiencing computer or printer problems. Just call or email the office.

Board of Education News:

The Board thanks the 173 families who completed the school survey at the end of the last
school year. Results were studied and shared with Administration and teachers. Regarding technology, families saw a great value in the web site, asked for online bus and cafeteria accounts per family, and felt the student computer classes were valuable. An improved web site was launched and online accounts are now being set up.

Parents are invited to attend the Board of Education meeting at 7:00 in the school library on Tuesday, September 14. As covered in the newsletter, the Board of Education adopted a tuition payment policy effective for this school year. Please visit the Board of Education web site page to review it and let any board member know if you have a question.

PTO News:

PTO MEETING THIS THURSDAY! - Our 1st PTO meeting for the 2010-2011 school year is this Thursday, September 9 at 7 pm in the school library. We invite you to join us and see what this year holds! Childcare is provided! Questions? Contact Heather hteller@fuse.net.  See you there!

Tomorrow is the first turn-in day for the Magazine Drive. Don’t forget!

Magazine Drive Volunteers Needed: We are in need of volunteers to help with our turn in day this Thursday, September 9th and Thursday, September 16th. We will meet at 7:30 am in the library. If you are able to help, please contact Jeni Coburn at pjcoburn@yahoo.com.

Sub Station II Eat Out Night: Mark your calendar now for next Wed., 9/15. It's Eat Out Night at the Ft. Wright Sub Station II from 5:00p to 8:00p. We will receive 15% of the sales for the evening. Thanks and hope to see you there!

Kindergarten/First Grade/New Family Meet & Greet - On Monday, September 13th at the South Hills Civic Club at 6:30 pm, we will have our Meet & Greet. The address is 10 Bluegrass Avenue. The civic club is off Kyles Lane (KY 1072) in Fort Wright.
     This is a social gathering for all new families, first grade, and kindergarten families - regardless if you already have a child attending St. Agnes. This is an opportunity to meet each other in a social atmosphere, ask questions about school, give the children a chance to play together, and meet families that your children will be attending school with for the next few years. Children are invited and refreshments will be provided. For questions, please contact Dawn Bloemer at 859-426-1770 or dawnbutsch@yahoo.com.  

365 Lotto Winners: Click here for a list of the September Winners for the 365 Lotto. Congratulations to our winners this month!

EXTRA EXTRA…READ ALL ABOUT IT......RECYCLE! Help us save a tree and make money! PTO encourages you to join us in our recycling efforts to help raise money for your school! All those school papers that you just cannot keep, magazines, newspapers, misprints from copiers and printers, etc. Collect and drop off any of these in the pretty green and yellow dumpsters in the school parking lot. Have your children do their part. Maybe ask your elderly neighbors if they can collect their used magazines and papers. This is free money for our children just by changing how you get rid of your trash! In helping St. Agnes, you also help the planet! A win for everyone! We are also looking for a committee chair to be our “go to person” for the recycle program. There is not much involved! Just a person to keep up with the communications! Interested???  Contact Heather Teller hteller@fuse.net  or 341-4606.

“APPLE” Volunteers: The APPLE Program has been in place since 1999 and will return again this school year. For those unfamiliar with this program, APPLE stands for “Appreciative Parents Providing Little Extras.” It is a volunteer program which parents signup to provide little treats for our teachers. It is especially for those parents who would like to help out with volunteer activities but are unable to sign up for most committees due to time constraints or because they are working. APPLE treats are for the teacher’s lounge. Those extra treats can be anything from baked goods to flowers to supplies for the classroom, anything you think the teachers would enjoy. It is just another way for us to show our teachers that they are special and appreciated. Everyone is encouraged to participate. If interested in participating in the program, please email Laura Tilford before Friday, September 24, 2010. Thank you, PTO Social Committee

St. Agnes Parish Children’s Choir: The St. Agnes Parish Children’s Choir season will officially begin with our first rehearsal on Wednesday, September 15, from 2:45 – 3:30 in the music room under the direction of Bobby Fisher. Rehearsals will continue to be held on every Wednesday through the end of the school year, unless otherwise noted. A complete schedule for the year will be handed out at the first rehearsal.
     We look forward to another exciting season. The choir will participate in one Sunday Mass per month plus on special Holy Days and Feast Days such as Christmas Eve at the 4:00 Mass, Epiphany, Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day, and Pentecost.
     In addition the choir periodically has opportunities to participate/perform at special celebrations such as Martin Luther King Day and at special events and places such as the Nativity Scene and St. Charles Nursing Home. In past years the choir has also had opportunities to perform from time to time on recording sessions.
Participation in the St. Agnes Parish Children’s choir is open to any student in Grades 3-8. Parents, we hope you will encourage your children to be a part of this fun and important music ministry.
     If your child is interested in participating, please fill out the attached permission form, and return it to the school office or you can return it with your child the first day of practice.
     I am also looking for adult volunteers to assist in various capacities including classroom volunteer, snack coordinator, bringing snacks, and drivers/chaperones for special events. THANK YOU! Bobby Fisher, Music Director

Honoring the Life of Maria Schaffstein: Smiles & Miles 5K Run/Walk: Mark your calendars for Sunday Sept. 26th at 4:00 pm. for the Smiles & Miles 5K Run/Walk honoring the life of Maria Schaffstein. This will be a fun, family friendly event. If you are not a runner, you can walk the 3.1 miles through scenic Park Hills and Devou Park. Strollers/Wagons/Dogs welcome also. The run/walk will start and finish at St. Agnes Church and all proceeds will directly benefit the children of St. Agnes School and parish in Maria's name. Food and drinks will be available after the race. We do have a family discount if several family members want to participate. You will need to download the form to get the discount and mail the form. You can also send thru Kidmail to Andrew Kennedy 2L. To register, go to https://secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=3822  to register online.
You can also download a registration form at
http://www.ctonky.com/documents/SmilesAndMiles_Registration_final-1.pdf.  If you would like to sponsor the run/walk or donate please contact Andy Kennedy at tilemann@yahoo.com.  

Halloween Party benefiting Big Blue Bash: There are some spots left for the Halloween Party benefiting St. Agnes School from our 2010 Big Blue Bash. The adult party will be held at Turners in Covington on Saturday, October 30th from 7:30 pm - ? Cost is $40 per couple/$20 person and includes tricks and treats. (Beer, wine, soft drinks and appetizers will also be served) Come in your finest Halloween costume for a fun filled evening. To sign up for the party, please send check made payable to St. Agnes PTO thru Kidmail, Tyler Bauereis 3H. Space is limited so to reserve your spot, send email to Jacquie Bauereis at bauereisj@yahoo.com
Party hosted by: The Michels, Hatters, Dickhaus, Rensing and Bauereis Families

First Grade Daisy Scouts: There will be a parent meeting this Friday the 10th after school in Murphy hall for 1st grade parents to come and sign their daughter up and fill out paperwork. It should not last more than a half an hour. We will talk about frequency of meetings at that time. Normal daisy meetings will be Friday after school. I have received interest forms for seven girls so far and would love those parents to attend as well as any others who may be interested. Any questions please call Amy Geiger at 647-0618. Can't wait to get started and meet our new troop!