Parent Newsletter

Friday, December 21, 2007

 

2007 Christmas Musical, "Back to Bethlehem" & "This Old Gingerbread House"   Well the reviews are in and once again this year’s Christmas Musical performed by the students in grades K - 3 of Bishop McDowell Regional School have done a Marvelous job. The performance of "Back to Bethlehem" made all of us think about the real meaning of Christmas and the play “This Old Gingerbread House”, taught us all a valuable lesson about respecting others, lending a helping hand and asking for forgiveness by saying we are sorry. In the end Hansel and Gretel were able to move back into their beloved Gingerbread Home, celebrate their new old house and have a party with their neighbors. What an Outstanding performance by all of our students. Thank you to Mrs. Kathy DeFrancesco for taking time out of her busy teaching schedule in order to prepare our students for this performance. A job well done Mrs. “D”. Also, thank you to Mrs. Dern and Mrs. Kuhn for all their help from behind the scenes. Merry Christmas to all and we certainly look forward to next year’s performance.

 

Christmas Band Concert   Congratulations to all members of the Instrumental Band Program! Their evening performance under the direction of Mr. Jeffrey Schmidt, band director, on Thursday, December 13, 2007 was tremendous. Good job ladies and gentlemen. We look forward to your Spring Concert.

 

Bishop McDowell Regional School 50/50 Holiday Raffle Fundraiser   So far we have sold 854 tickets, with the winner receiving $427.00. We need to continue to sell.  Get your tickets and money in we only have 1 ½ more weeks to sell. Remember to turn in your tickets to the school office by 11am on Monday, December 31, 2007. The Drawing will take place in the school building at 11:15am on Monday, December 31, 2007. All are encouraged to attend to witness the drawing. We look forward to seeing you there!!!

 

Dress Down Days (January 3^rd – January 4^th)   Because everyone in the school community has done an excellent job in selling chances for the 50/50 Holiday Raffle, Mr. Grgurich is going to give the students in grades K – 8 2 dress down days in a row beginning on Thursday, January 3^rd -  Friday, January 4^th. Students will be permitted to wear causal clothing both days but are reminded that shorts, Capri pants, tank tops, under armor, extremely tight fitting clothing or baggy clothing and any other types of clothing that goes against the Catholic nature of our school are NOT to be worn. As always Mr. Grgurich reserves the right to determine what is inappropriate. KEEP IT SIMPLE!!!

 

2007 Christmas Vacation   Christmas Vacation for the students in Grades K - 8 will begin on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 12:15pm and continue through Wednesday, January 2, 2008. School resumes on Thursday, January 3, 2008 at 8am.

 

School Mass   The students in grades K - 8 will be attending Mass on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 1:30pm in the St. Albert the Great Church. The 5^th Grade Students will be ministering at this mass. All are welcome to attend.

 

Bishop McDowell Regional School Bowling Program   A reminder the Bishop McDowell Regional School Bowling Program will resume on Friday, January 4, 2008 at the Brunswick Playmor Lanes on Buttermilk Hollow Road. We certainly look forward to seeing all of our bowlers after the holidays!! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

Bishop McDowell Regional School Athletic Upcoming Dates   Mark Your Calendars for these Upcoming Sports Dates: Little Dribblers – January 12^th, 19^th, 26^th, February 2^nd, 9^th, and 16^th, 8th Grade Sports Recognition - Friday, February 22^nd, 3^rd & 4th Grade Magic Basketball Tournament - February 23^rd - March 16^th, and 5^th Grade Tournament Saturday, February 23^rd – March 16^th.

 

Bishop McDowell Regional School Junior Sports Programs   The Bishop McDowell Regional School Junior Sports Programs will begin on Saturday, January 12^th and run through Saturday, February 16^th. The Junior Sports Programs being offered for Grades K – 3 this year will include: Basketball, Deck Hockey and Cheerleading for both boys and girls. The registration fee is $15.00 per child per sport. Each child will receive a T-shirt for each participating sport. Details regarding the Junior Sports program and the Junior Sports Registration form will be sent home at a later date to all students in Grades K - 3.

 

2008 Magic Club   This year’s MAGIC Club Reverse Raffle and Dinner Dance is scheduled for Saturday, February 16, 2008. Applications for memberships are now being accepted.  Memberships make great Thank You gifts or Christmas 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, it’s a great evening and can be quite profitable.

 

January Market Day Orders   All January Market Day Order forms are due to the school office on Monday, January 7, 2008. Internet orders are due by noon on Thursday, January 10, 2008. Pick-up is scheduled for Wednesday, January 16, 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.

 

Pizza Hut Fundraiser Day   On Thursday, January 10^th at the Brentwood Towne Center Pizza Hut, Bishop McDowell Regional School will have a fundraiser day. Just bring the coupon that is attached with today’s parent 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 day, you will get credit towards your tuition as well!!! See you on Thursday, January 10^th and come hungry!!

 

Store Certificates   During the Christmas break Store Certificates can be purchased at the St. Wendelin Parish Center Thursday, December 27^th - Friday, December 28^th from 10am – 2pm. Call ahead (412) – 882 – 1480 to be sure that someone is available to sell you certificates.

 

Early Dismissal / Faculty Meeting   There will be an Early Dismissal on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 12:15pm in order for the faculty to have a meeting and professional development in-service. Also, we will follow our early dismissal snack procedure with snacks being sold by the HOPE Team Members in the Cafeteria beginning at 10:25am. The items being sold are not mandatory to buy; you always have the option of sending in a snack with your child(ren). $1.50 should be more than enough money to purchase a snack and drink.

 

2007 Santa Christmas Shop   Once again the Bishop McDowell Regional School Santa Christmas Shop was a HUGE success. The students carefully and thoughtfully purchased Christmas presents for family and friends. The Santa Shop would not have been successful if it were not for the outpouring amount of help and donations of wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, bows and bags. Thank you to the following parents and staff who made this possible: Diane Zielinski, Lori McCann, Jane Facchiano, Pam Higgins, Karen Wilharm, Kenny Wrubleski, Marie Mankos, Janet Grgurich, Ms. Wolfe, Cindy Schumacher, Brenda Schneider, Mrs. Mazzocco, Patty Kastroll, Mrs. Murawski, Tammy Scoulos, Tammy Carlins, Sue Meador, Jacqueline Marino, Carol Hodermarsky, Kathy Hoeritz, Erin Brown, Betty Innocenti, Faith Eisengart, Jane Longenecker, Lori Lydon, Jane Kosco, Colleen Montana and Melody Bennett. Also, a special thank you to Madison Wrubleski. Finally, Thank You to Wendy Wrubleski for taking time to plan, organize and run our Santa Shop. Your effort is greatly appreciated. We look forward to next year. In the meantime have a wonderful Christmas Season.

 

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. We need another $12,324.39 in receipts to attain our goal. Keep on saving!

 

National Adoption Month Poster Contest   During the month of November Bishop McDowell Regional School students participated in a poster contest. The contest was for National Adoption Month, sponsored by The Court of Common Pleas, Family Division. Three of our students received certificates of recognition for participating in “The Importance of Family: “My Family Portrait – What Being Family means to me.” Alyssa Taylor 1^st Place; 7^th Grade, Madison Gallucci 2^nd Place; 6^th Grade and Abbygail Muse, Honorable Mention Kindergarten. Congratulations to the winners and all the students that participated.

 

2008 Rally for Life and Youth Mass   Please consider participating in the 2008 Rally for Life and Youth Mass to be held on January 22^nd at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Doors open at 7am, Confessions at 8am, Rally for Life at 8:45am and 10am Youth Mass. Immediately following will be the March for Life on the National Mall. For more information, call the Department for Youth and Young Adult Ministry at 412 – 456 – 3140. For more information refer to the flyer that was attached with last week’s newsletter.

 

 

 

 

The Administration, Faculty, and Staff of Bishop McDowell Regional School

wish you and your family the Peace and Joy of the Christ Child

this Christmas Season and a prosperous New Year.

 

School Resumes on Thursday, January 3, 2008 at 8am.

The next Parent Newsletter will be coming home on Friday, January 11, 2008.