Parent Newsletter

Friday, November 2, 2007

 

Daylight Savings Time   Just a friendly reminder to turn your clocks back 1-hour Saturday evening. What a great thought “an extra hour of sleep”. Have an enjoyable weekend.

 

Teacher Clerical Day / Election Day   The students in grades PreK – 8 will have the day off on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 due to the teacher clerical day and because Bishop McDowell Regional School is used as a polling place for the General Election.

 

50/50 Holiday Raffle Fundraiser   Wondering how you’re going to pay off your Holiday bills? Beginning on Friday, November 2, 2007 Bishop McDowell Regional School has just the solution. We would like you to participate in the 50/50 Holiday Raffle Fundraiser event at Bishop McDowell Regional School by taking a chance on buying a 50/50 raffle ticket for only $1. These raffle tickets can be purchased in the school office Monday – Friday from 7:30am – 3:30pm, and on the weekends after masses at both St. Albert the Great Church and St. Wendelin Church. Also, we are asking all school families to get involved by doing your part in helping to sell as many chances as possible. The more chances sold the higher the prize. Everyone will be able to watch the pot grow as we post the amount on the school website daily, every other day, and weekly. I’m sure the anticipation of the drawing will help everyone to get in on the selling frenzy. Return all sold tickets and money in an envelope to the school office marked: “50/50 School Raffle”. Just a reminder tickets and money must be returned together or we can’t pay the winner. The winning ticket will be pulled on New Years Eve Monday, December 31, 2007, just in time for those first of the month holiday bills.

 

2007 Magic Classic Basketball Tournament   This weekend kicks off the Bishop McDowell Regional School Magic Classic Basketball Tournament. This tournament runs the first four weekends during the month of November. Workers Schedules were sent home on Monday, October 29^th. If you haven’t received yours, call the school office at (412) 884 - 5676 and one will be sent home or for your convenience you may obtain a workers schedule by going to the school’s website. This weekend our Boys Varsity is in action on Friday evening November 2, 2007 at 7:55pm as well as our Boys Junior Varsity which will play on Saturday, afternoon November 3, 2007 at 12:15pm. Reminder students that come to watch the games MUST be accompanied by an adult or guardian.

 

2007 Fall Parent / Teacher Conferences   Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Wednesday, November 7, 2007 Grades K – 3 (4pm - 8pm), and Thursday November 8, 2007 Grades 4 – 8 (4pm - 8pm). Be on time for your conference and be considerate of others by keeping with your scheduled 10 minute conference. The students in Grades K – 3 will have the day off on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 and the students in Grades 4 – 8 will have the day off on Thursday, November 8, 2007. Your scheduled conferences should have come home on Thursday, November 1, 2007.  Make sure you have checked your child’s bookbag.

 

Advisory Council Meeting   There will be an Advisory Council Meeting on Monday, November 12, 2007 at 7:30pm in Room 206 on the main floor of the Bishop McDowell Regional School building. All meetings are open to both parish communities and the school community.

 

Physical Education Schedule Change for Grades K – 8   Next week there will be a Physical Education Schedule Change for students in Grades K – 8 due to the students in grades K – 3 having the day off on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 and the students in grades 4 – 8 having the day off on Thursday, November 8, 2007. Physical Education classes for Grades 4 – 8 will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 and Physical Education classes for Grades K – 3 will be held on Thursday, November 8, 2007. Make a note of this change for grades K – 8 and remember this change is only for next week. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

 

Holiday Shopping, use the School’s “Certificate Program”   With the holidays fast approaching, remember to order your certificates early for your Holiday Shopping Spree. Now is the time to order your Cineplex, Bath n’ Body, Bed, Bath and Beyond, TGIF Friday and Eat n Park certificates for the Thanksgiving break. Then enjoy your time with your family by taking them out to see a movie, treating yourself, having lunch or dinner at your favorite restaurant and finally get a jump on your holiday shopping. The attached order form is for some of the stores at the Waterfront in Homestead. Remember send in your certificate orders ASAP and make this holiday season everything you want it to be.

 

Veterans’ Day Prayer Service   In remembrance of Veterans’ Day and the many men and women who have fought for our freedom, the students in Grades K - 8 will be attending a Veterans’ Day Prayer Service on Friday, November 9, 2007 at 1:45pm in the Assembly Area on the main floor of the Bishop McDowell Regional School building. The Second & Third Grade students are preparing to minister at the prayer service. Join us in prayer as we honor the men and women who courageously served our country.

 

Little Sisters of the Poor Food Drive   On Monday, November 5, 2007 our Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Little Sisters of the Poor begins and continues until Tuesday, November 20, 2007. To help everyone know what is needed there is an attached Wish List of items with this week’s newsletter. We certainly appreciate all you have done in the past, and thank you in advance for being so generous with this year’s food drive. This service project is being sponsored by our HOPE Team. What a great way to give back to your community and those less fortunate. Also, there will be a competition for the entire school to collect 300 non-perishable items. If this goal is accomplished by Tuesday, November 20, 2007 everyone in Grades K – 8 will receive a dress down day on Wednesday, November 21, 2007. Good Luck and remember every item collected will help someone less fortunate this holiday season. What a great opportunity for the Bishop McDowell Regional School community to show their spirit of giving. Let’s get motivated and collect more than 300 items.

 

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 $8,675.61 in receipts. Keep on saving!

 

St. Albert the Great Church Altar Server Training   There will be an altar sever training on Sunday, November 11, 2007 at 12:30pm in the St. Albert the Great Church for students from St. Albert the Great Church interested in becoming an altar server.

 

2007 Santa Lunch   Our annual Santa Lunch is scheduled for Saturday, December 8, 2007 from 12pm – 3pm in the Bishop McDowell Regional School Cafeteria. Come join us for lunch, ice cream sundaes, raffles, door prizes, crafts and a visit from Santa. All tickets will be $8 a person and must be purchased by Tuesday, November 27, 2007. For more information see the attached flyer or call Lisa Henning at (412) 884 – 6138.

2007 Santa Christmas Shop   The Bishop McDowell Regional School Santa Christmas Shop will begin on Monday, December 3, 2007 and conclude on Friday, December 7, 2007. Items will be priced from approximately $10 and under. A schedule of when each class is going to shop and an envelope for shopping with an itemized list on it will be sent home on Tuesday, November 27 , 2007. For more information about the Santa Christmas Shop contact Wendy Wrubleski at (412) 881 – 1688.

 

2007 SARRIS Christmas Candy Sale   It’s not too late to order SARRIS Christmas Candy. The end date for the sale is Friday, November 9, 2007. Send in all orders to the school office next week. If you have any questions, contact Kathy Moeslein at (412) 885 – 5628. Thank you for your continued support of Bishop McDowell Regional School and Catholic education. 

 

Seton - La Salle Catholic High School Fall Drama   The Drama Club of Seton-La Salle Catholic High School is proud to present “The Odd Couple” on Friday, November 16, 2007 and Saturday, November 17, 2007 at 7:30pm in the school auditorium. Admission is $5.00 each for all performances. For more information or to reserve seats call Seton - La Salle Drama at (412) 561 - 3583.

 

Protecting God’s Children   St. Albert the Great Parish is sponsoring a Protecting God’s Children course on Thursday November 15, 2007 from 7pm – 10pm. This course will be held in the Bishop McDowell Regional School building on the main floor of the school building. Make note of the floor change. Protecting God’s Children is a requirement by the diocese for any adult working with children. There is no fee. If you have not attended one of these sessions in the past then parents, parent volunteers and volunteer coaches are required to attend. For more information and to reserve your place call the St. Albert the Great Religious Education Office at (412) 884 – 8282. You must register for this course in order to reserve enough materials for each participant.

 

Pizza Hut Fund Raiser Night   On Thursday, November 8, 2007 at the Brentwood Towne Center Pizza Hut 11am – 9pm, Bishop McDowell Regional School will have a fund raiser day. Eat in and carry out orders for lunch and dinner are eligible on November 8^th and a portion of the sales goes to our school. Just bring the attached coupons WITH TODAY’S NEWSLETTER to Pizza Hut that day and Pizza Hut will donate 20% of your purchase to the school. 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! Reminder this fundraiser begins at lunchtime and includes dinner. See you on Thursday, November 8^th and come hungry!!!

 

Bishop McDowell Regional School Preschool/Kindergarten Rainbows and Butterflies Story Hour   On Wednesday, November 14^th the Bishop McDowell Regional School Rainbows and Butterflies Story Hour will be held at 6:30pm in the Kindergarten Room of the Bishop McDowell Regional School building. Mrs. Dern our first grade teacher will host this hour of storytelling and activities for Preschool and Kindergarten age children. This program will be open to Preschool and Kindergarten students of Bishop McDowell Regional School as well as children of St. Albert the Great, St. Basil, and St. Wendelin Parishes of Preschool and Kindergarten age.

 

Activities Committee Meeting   There will be an Activities Committee Meeting on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 9am in Cafeteria of the school building. The Activities Committee will continue planning the Trim-a-Tree Event scheduled for Friday, December 7, 2007. More details about this event will be posted in a future newsletter. All committee members are asked to make this meeting a priority and as usual new members are always welcome.