Parent Newsletter

Friday, January 18, 2008

 

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday   The students in Grades PreK - 8 will have the day off on Monday, January 21, 2008 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. School resumes on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 8am.

 

Report Cards for Second Nine Weeks   On Tuesday, January 22, 2008 your child(ren) will receive their report card for the second time this academic year. Take time to sit down with your child(ren) and review their grades they have received for each academic area. Also, this is a good time to have your child(ren) set goals for the third nine weeks in all academic areas and to let your child(ren) know you are very interested in how they are behaving in the classroom as well. If you would like to schedule a phone conference with a teacher to discuss your child’s report card call the school office and leave a message.

 

2008 – 2009 Kindergarten Registration   Kindergarten Registration for the 2008 – 2009 school year kicks off with an Informational Meeting on Thursday evening, February 7, 2008 from 7pm – 8pm and Friday, morning February 8, 2008 from 10am – 11am. Both informational meetings will be held in Room 206 on the main floor of the Bishop McDowell Regional School building. Please call the school office on or before Wednesday, February 6, 2008 with your RSVP for the session you would prefer. Children are invited to meet their new classmates, and to get involved in some classroom activities. All Bishop McDowell Regional School 4 year old Preschool parents and students are invited and encouraged to attend either session.

 

2007 – 2008 Family Directory   The 2007 – 2008 Family Directory is finally ready. All school families will receive a copy with today’s newsletter. If you need an extra copy, call Mrs. Schumacher at (412) 884 – 5676.

 

Marketing and Communication Meeting   There will be a Marketing and Communications Meeting on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 7pm in Mr. Grgurich’s office. New members are always welcome!

 

Bishop McDowell Regional School Bowling Program   A reminder to our students that participate in the bowling program, bowling has been canceled for this week, Friday, January 18^th, bowling will resume on Friday, January 25^th. See you then.

 

2008 Sarris Easter Candy Sale   Our Sarris Easter Candy Sale begins today Thursday, January 17, 2008. Take a few minutes this weekend to look over the Sarris Easter Candy brochure and then start asking family, friends, and neighbors to make a purchase. Our Sarris Easter Candy Sale will conclude on Friday, February 8, 2008. At that time return your completed Master Sheet (white and yellow sheets) and payment. Checks should be made payable to Bishop McDowell School. The delivery to the school and pick-up is scheduled for Thursday, March 6, 2008 from 2:30pm -4pm and 6pm – 7pm in the school office. If you have any question concerning the Sarris Easter Candy Sale you may contact Kathy Moeslein at (412) 885 – 5628. Before you know it Easter will be here so get out there and Sell, Sell, Sell!!

 

2008 Magic Club   Need a little something to peek you interest about this year’s Magic Club how about a new raffle called the Second Chance Raffle, more information will follow in the weeks to come. This is just another reminder the MAGIC Club Reverse Raffle and Dinner Dance is scheduled for Saturday, February 16, 2008. Applications for memberships are still being accepted.  Memberships make great Thank You gifts or birthday presents.  Why not show your appreciation for that special someone you just don’t know what to buy. For more information call Janet Grgurich at (412) 885 - 1752 to answer any questions you might have about this exciting evening. If you need an application call the school office and we will send one home. Don’t be left out, it’s a great evening and can be quite profitable.

 

2008 Magic Club “Basket of Cheer” Donations    Every year the Basket of Cheer at the Magic Club seems to get bigger and better each time. It has become one of the most popular items to be auctioned that evening. Once again we are looking for donations in order to create that basket. If you received a bottle for Christmas that you know you won’t use, we will gladly accept your contribution. Your donation(s) of alcohol or a case of beer would be greatly appreciated. You may drop off your donation marked Magic Club in the school office during school hours, 7:30am – 3:30pm Monday – Friday.  We can’t do it with out your help! Memberships are still available to one of the most enjoyable fundraiser of the year.  Why not join us.

 

Catholic Schools Week Information Packet   The celebration of Catholic Schools Week: “The Good News in Education” begins on Sunday, January 27, 2008 and ends on Saturday, February 2, 2008. A packet of information containing the schedule of events, times of specific activities, and RSVP forms was sent home with the January 11^th parent newsletter. Now is the time to go through the information packet, sign all forms that need to be returned and return these forms to the school office ASAP. Also, post the schedule of events on your refrigerator in order to be informed of all happenings. Thank you to the Marketing and Communications Committee for planning the week and I hope that everyone enjoys the celebration.

 

Catholic Schools Week Scholastic Book Fair   This year’s Scholastic Book Fair will be held Sunday, January 27^th thru Friday, Feb. 1^st. The Book Fair will be open during certain special events during Catholic Schools Week: Catholic Schools Week Brunch on Sunday, Jan 27^th, Lunch with a Friend on Wednesday, Jan. 30^th, Donuts with Dad on Thursday, Jan. 31^st and Reading Night on Thursday evening Jan 31^st. We are in need of volunteers to help the children pick out their books each day of the scheduled times and also for the special event times. Contact Laurie Robison at (412) 431 – 5114 if you would like to volunteer. In the meantime we look forward to seeing you during our Catholic Schools Week celebration.

 

Catholic Schools Week Spaghetti & Stuffed Shells Dinner   Bishop McDowell Regional School will hold a Spaghetti & Stuffed Shell Dinner to conclude Catholic Schools Week on Saturday February 2, 2008 from 4pm – 7pm in the Bishop McDowell Regional School Cafeteria. Tickets for the dinner are now on sale. The cost of an Adult Spaghetti Dinner or Stuffed Shells Dinner is $7. The cost for a Child 12 & under Spaghetti Dinner or Stuffed Shells Dinner is $3. All dinners include: meatballs, bread, salad, dessert and a drink. You may purchase tickets Monday – Friday during school hours from 7:30am – 3:30pm or on the weekends after all masses at both St. Albert the Great Church or St. Wendelin Church. Help to get the word out about our Catholic Schools Week Spaghetti & Stuffed Shells Dinner and then enjoy one another’s company around the dinner table. We look forward to seeing you there!

 

Easter 50/50 Holiday Raffle   Our Easter 50/50 Holiday Raffle will begin on Sunday, January 27, 2008 during our Catholic School Week Spaghetti & Stuffed Shells Dinner and continue until Tuesday, March 18, 2008, 6 days before Easter. Our goal this time is to sell at least 1,500 tickets. Rumor has it the faculty, staff and students really enjoyed the 2 dress down days they had and would surely enjoy dressing down the week after Easter. Tickets will be made available in the school office during Catholic Schools Week. Each family will once again be asked to sell at least 10 tickets. Our last winner received $573.00. So let’s get ready to sell!!!

 

Tuition Assistance Available for the 2008 – 2009 Academic Year   Re- registration for Grades K – 8 is fast approaching for the 2008 – 2009 academic year. This is just a reminder of two sources of tuition assistance, the Bishop’s Education Fund (BEF) and Scholastic Opportunities Scholarship (SOS), available for families with students in Catholic Schools. The Bishop’s Education Fund is awarded on the basis of financial need. In order to be eligible the applicants must be practicing Catholics registered in a parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, attend one of the diocesan parish or regional schools and have demonstrated financial need. The Scholastic Opportunity Scholarship (SOS) Tuition Assistance Program was developed when the General Assembly of Pennsylvania established Act 4 in May of 2001. This law provided for the establishment of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) to be administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Act 4 authorizes the award of tax credits to businesses that make contributions to the scholarship organizations. Therefore the Diocese of Pittsburgh has formed the Scholastic Opportunity Scholarship program (SOS) to receive tax credit gifts. The funds available through the SOS program will be awarded to families based solely on economic eligibility requirements. Students who are Pennsylvania residents enrolled in any Catholic school in the Diocese of Pittsburgh are eligible. Applicants can be Catholic or non- Catholic. The funds will be sent in the students name to the school where the child is enrolled. You must complete the 2008 – 2009 PSAS form to be considered for either of these tuition assistance programs.

 

Private School Aid Service (PSAS) All parents applying to either the Bishop’s Education Fund or Scholastic Opportunity Scholarship Fund must have their need assessed by Private School Aid Service (PSAS), a company from Rocky River, Ohio which specializes in evaluating need for families attending private elementary or secondary schools. Parents must submit a copy of their federal tax return (and state tax return if applying to SOS), a completed 2008 – 2009 “Student Aid Form” (with their pastor’s signature if applying to BEF) and a $20 administrative fee. “Student Aid Forms” are due to PSAS on or before Friday, March 14, 2008. Incomplete forms will be returned. The signed “Student Aid Form” must be sent directly to PSAS as indicated in the instructions on the form itself. Photocopied forms will not be accepted by PSAS. PSAS forms are available now; just contact Mrs. Schumacher in the school office at (412) 884 – 5676 for a PSAS form. Do not hesitate in applying for tuition assistance before you know it Friday, March 14^th will have come and gone.

 

Policy for Telecommunications/Audio & Visual Entertainment/Technology Gadgets   A reminder to all parents now that Christmas is over, I realize that your children may have received new technology gadgets as presents. Sometimes your children even want show them off to their friends in school. The policy still states and will not change: Ipods, Cellphones, MP3 players, Gameboys or NDS etc., video games/disks, music or movie CD’s, Walkmans, laser pointers, etc. are not to be in school unless a note has been sent in or phone call made giving a specific reason. These particular cases will be dealt with on an individual basis. If any of these types of items are broken in school, lost or stolen during school hours, Bishop McDowell Regional School will not be held responsible or take responsibility to find them or have them repaired. Also, if these items are seen during the day without permission to be used they will be taken and given back at the end of the day. All of these items are considered to be a distraction to the learning process and are no longer acceptable in the school building. Remember that any telecommunication that needs to be done between you and your child will be done through the school office. Should a student be caught texting or receiving a message from another person at any time during the day the student’s cellphone will be taken and the parent will be called to pick-up the cellphone in the school office. If a student would be caught texting or receiving a message(answers) during a testing situation a 1 day out of school suspension will be given and further action could follow. Make note of this policy and speak to your child(ren) about following this policy. Should there need to be any further clarification you may contact Mr. Grgurich at (412) 884 – 5676.

 

February Market Day Orders   All February Market Day order forms are due to the school office on Monday, February 4, 2008.  Internet orders are due by noon on Thursday, February 7, 2008. Pick-up is scheduled for Wednesday, February 13, 2008 from 6pm - 7pm in the Cafeteria of the school building. As always we are in need of volunteers to help on Market Day, consider giving 1or 2-hours. Also if you have access to the Internet you can place your own order. It’s easy! Go to Market Day.com for step by step instructions. If you would like to volunteer or have any questions about Market Day call the school office at (412) 884 – 5676.

 

February Monthly Lottery Tickets   On Friday, January 11, 2008 the February Monthly Lottery Tickets were sent home in your child’s bookbag.  We ask that each family try to sell at least (10) tickets each month. The cost is $5 per ticket and is based on the evening drawing of the 3-digit number. Once again this fundraiser has proven to be a great source of income for the school. We have the potential to make over $2000.00 a month if all the tickets are sold. Just a reminder if you are able to sell more that (10) tickets, contact Judy Parente at (412) 881 - 8478 and she will send you additional tickets. All ticket stubs and money are due back to Judy by Thursday, January 31^st including unsold tickets.

 

Pennsylvania Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl   On Friday, January 25, 2008 the 5^th and 6^th grades will be participating in the Pennsylvania Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl. The team will be answering 100 computerized questions in 12 different categories that include current events, government topics and fun trivia. The Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl offers our students the opportunity to have fun along with an educational team experience. We wish our team the best of luck.

 

Giant Eagle Apples for the Students Program   The Giant Eagle Apples for the Students Program begins Sunday October 28, 2007 and continues until Saturday, March 15, 2008. Again this year, you will not need to send in receipts from Giant Eagle. All you need to do is be a registered supporter. If you registered last year, you are automatically registered for this year. If you are not a registered supporter, it’s very easy to become one. Take a moment to register. You will need your Giant Eagle Advantage card handy then call 1-800-474-4777. An automated system will talk you through the process. Our school ID number is 1022. You can also register by visiting the Giant Eagle website at www.gianteagle.com and click on the Apples for Students icon. Each time registered supporters shop at Giant Eagle using their Giant Eagle Advantage Card; they earn points for our school. These points are redeemed for great educational tools. The points are automatically credited to our school through the Giant Eagle Advantage Card.

 

St. Wendelin Church “Soup Bowl Sunday”   On Sunday, January 20, 2008, the St. Wendelin Church Activities Committee will host “Soup Bowl Sunday” beginning at 9am – 12:30pm in the St. Wendelin Parish Center. Some of the soups to be served are: Broccoli Cheese Soup, Chicken Tortellini Soup, Sausage Tortellini Soup, Vegetable Barley Soup, Annie’s Potato & Cabbage Soup, Split Pea Soup with Ham, Stuffed Pepper Soup, Wedding Soup, and George’s Famous Chili. The cost for a Quart is $5. All soups are Homemade. Come join us and chase away the winter blahs.

 

Shop n’ Save SEED Program   The Shop n’ Save SEED Assembly Program is made possible through a unique partnership with the Carnegie Science Center and Carnegie Museum of Natural History. In order to qualify for an assembly our school is required to collect $250 per student in Shop n’ Save register tapes for each participating student. Beginning June 1, 2007 and continuing through March 11, 2008 Bishop McDowell Regional School will be collecting Shop n’ Save register tapes to receive an assembly through Carnegie Museum. Our goal by March 11, 2008 is $21,000.00 in register receipts. Continue saving your register tapes and bring them to the school office to deposit! So far the school community has collected $19,074.43 in receipts. We need another $1,925.57 in receipts to attain our goal. Keep on saving!