Parent Newsletter

Friday, January 25, 2008

 

2008 Magic Club   The year’s Magic Club Reverse Raffle and Dinner Dance will take place on Saturday, February 16, 2008 in the Wendel Inn. Applications and final payment are due to the school office by Monday, February 4^th.   Don’t miss out on this fun evening. Memberships are a very hot commodity. For more information call Janet Grgurich at (412) 885 - 1752 to answer any questions you might have about this exciting evening. Doors open at 5pm. Dinner is served at 6:30pm. Don’t be left out, it’s a great evening and can be quite profitable and don’t forget about the Second Chance Raffle you could win as much as $500.00.

 

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 or a case/six pack of beer we will gladly accept your contribution. You may drop off your donation marked “Magic Club” in the school office between the hours of 7:30am & 3:30pm, Monday – Friday.  We can’t do it with out your help! 

 

Lunch Menu Change, Friday, February 1st   There is a Lunch Menu Change for Friday, February 1^st. The Regular Lunch will be French Toast Sticks, Sausage Patty, Hash Brown, Fruit and Choice of Milk. The alternate lunch will remain the same along with PB&J as another option. Make note of the change.

 

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.

 

Catholic Schools Week “Scholastic Book Fair”   This year’s Scholastic Book Fair will be held January 27^th thru February 1^st. Also, the Scholastic Book Fair will be open during certain events of Catholic Schools Week: the Catholic Schools Week Brunch held on January 27^th, Lunch with a Friend held on January 30^th, and Donuts with Dad held on January 31^st. We are still in need of volunteers to help the children pick out their books each day of the scheduled times and for the special event times. Refer to the Volunteer Form that was sent home on Friday, January 11^th. Also, take time to review the Book Fair schedule that was sent with the January 11^th newsletter in order to remember to send in money with your child on their scheduled day. A reminder the Catholic School Weeks schedule is posted on the school’s website including the Book Fair Schedule.

 

Catholic Schools Week Mass   The students in Grades K - 8 will be attending Mass on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 1:00pm. The Sixth Grade students will minister at this Liturgy. Father Ed will preside at this Liturgy. During this Mass we remember St Thomas Aquinas, who lived in the 13^th century and was one of the most wise and devout scholars of the Church. He came from southern, Italy, but studied and taught all over Europe as a Dominican friar. In addition to his teaching and writing, he had a rich prayer life. All are Welcome to join us as we celebrate Catholic Schools Week! Make note of the time change.

Catholic Schools Week Assembly Michael the Circus Artist   Back by popular demand Michael the Circus Artist will once again wow, dazzle and amaze us with his talents of unicycle riding, juggling, stilt walking, rolo bolo and more on Tuesday morning, January 29, 2008. Michael will perform for the students in Grades K – 3 beginning at 9am and perform for the students in Grades 4 – 8 beginning at 10am. As always it will be entertainment at its best.

 

Catholic Schools Week “Lunch with a Friend”   Our “Lunch with a Friend” event will be held on Wednesday, January 30, 2008. Just a reminder all orders for lunch need to be in the school office no later than Monday morning, January 28, 2008. Lunch for students in Grades K – 3 will begin at 11:10am. All parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends attending lunch should enter through the front entrance of the school building and proceed downstairs to the cafeteria. The faculty will bring the students to the cafeteria to meet their friend(s) for lunch. Lunch for students in Grades 4 – 8 will begin at 11:50am. Anyone attending this lunch should follow the same procedure as the K – 3 lunch period. Each lunch period will last 45 minutes. After this time the students will report back to their homeroom for their next class. If you have any other question about the lunch call the school office for further clarification. We look forward to seeing you!

 

Catholic Schools Week CLO Assembly “Incredibly Innovative Innovators of Pittsburgh”   On Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 9:30am on the main floor of the Bishop McDowell Regional School building the students in grades K – 8 will attend the Civic Light Opera Assembly “Incredibly Innovative Innovators of Pittsburgh”. After putting off doing her social studies homework assignment, a teenage girl named Lisa suddenly has her favorite rock band magically appear in her game room. To help Lisa with her neglected assignment, they take her on a musical journey exploring the historical innovators from Western Pennsylvania over the past 250 years. The performance sounds like it will rock for sure!

 

Catholic Schools Week Spirit Day, Ice Cream Social and Pep Assembly   The students in Grades K – 8 will have a Bishop McDowell Regional School Teal, Black and White Spirit Dress Down Day on Friday, February 1, 2008. Students will be permitted to wear jeans or sweatpants, gym shoes and spirit wear T-shirts, Sweatshirts or Basketball Warm-up Shirts and Pants. Absolutely no face / body painting or hair coloring is permitted. As usual Mr. Grgurich has the right to deem what is inappropriate. The Ice Cream Social will begin in the afternoon around 1:35pm with the Pep Assembly to follow. Both of these events are being sponsored by the Activities Committee.

 

Catholic Schools Week Spaghetti & Stuffed Shells Dinner   Bishop McDowell Regional School is holding a Spaghetti & Stuffed Shells Dinner to end Catholic Schools Week on Saturday February 2, 2008 from 4pm – 7pm in the Bishop McDowell Regional School Cafeteria. Tickets for the dinner are on sale after each Mass at St. Albert the Great and St. Wendelin Churches this weekend or at the door. The cost of an Adult Spaghetti or Stuffed Shells Dinner is $7. The cost for a Child 12 & under Spaghetti 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 for dinner.

 

Catholic Schools Week Family BINGO Night   On Saturday evening, February 2, 2008 the Activities Committee is sponsoring a Family BINGO Night. Doors open at 7pm. The cost for entrance is $3 for adults and $2 for children. Refreshments will be available: soft pretzels, nachos and cheese, iced tea, water and several other items. There will be Instant BINGO, 50/50 and Chinese Auction items as well. Come and join us as we end our Catholic Schools Week celebration. 

 

Pizza Hut Night Fundraiser   On Thursday, February 14^th at Brentwood Towne Center Pizza Hut, Bishop McDowell Regional School will have a fundraiser night. As an added bonus---buy your Pizza Hut certificates at the school or after mass and use them to pay for your pizza that night, you will get credit towards your tuition as well!!! See you on Thursday, February 14^th and come hungry!!

 

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.

 

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.

 

Easter 50/50 Holiday Raffle   Our Easter 50/50 Holiday Raffle will begin on Sunday, January 27, 2008 during our Catholic Schools Week Brunch 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 and staff along with the students really enjoyed the 2 dress down days they had after Christmas break 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!!!

 

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!

 

2008 Sarris Easter Candy Sale   Our Sarris Easter Candy Sale began on 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!! Reminder the order form was attached with the January 18^th Parent Newsletter. If you need another order form contact the school office.

 

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.

 

Marketing and Communications Advertising, Public Relations and Promotion Items   As we all know the Bishop McDowell Regional School Marketing and Communications Committee continues to spend a great deal of time on marketing the school in a positive manner to the local community. As a result we have colorful brochures, a spectacular looking poster and flyers. We still have some yard signs available just call the school office to make arrangements to pick one up. If you are interested in helping to display a poster, place brochures, distribute flyers or even have ideas as to where these items can be strategically placed in local businesses, you may contact Mr. Grgurich at (412) 884 - 5676. We really need more than ever to get behind our marketing campaign. As we know word of mouth is still the most positive way of promoting our school so let’s make a real difference in the Carrick and Baldwin communities and show them how proud we are of Bishop McDowell Regional School.

 

Easter Bunny Lunch   The Easter Bunny is hopping to Bishop McDowell Regional School on Saturday, March 8, 2008 from 12pm – 3pm in the School Cafeteria. Come join us for lunch and an afternoon of exciting activities that include: making crafts, making ice cream sundaes, hunting for Easter eggs, raffles, door prizes and of course a visit with the Easter Bunny. Tickets are $8 a person and must be purchased by Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Make checks payable to: Bishop McDowell School. If you have any questions or need more information, contact the school office at (412) 884 – 5676. See the attached flyer with this week’s newsletter for ticket reservations. Make sure to get you tickets early so you won’t miss out.