November 1, 2012

Dear Parents,

I write this latest monthly update to you in my rarely quiet office since I am the only person in the building right now.  It is hard to believe that we have already lost an entire week of school and winter hasn’t even arrived yet!  I pray that the Lord will bless us again with a mild winter since I don’t think any of us would want to still be in school in July.

It has been heartbreaking to see the reports on the TV news stations regarding the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.  Thankfully, as far as I am aware, none of our families have been seriously affected by the storm.  Some have relatives or friends who were, however, in some cases losing everything.  In our diocese, we lost a teacher, Nancy Sorenson, from Our Lady of Grace School in Brooklyn and a 4year old student, Connor Moore, from St. Edmund School in Brooklyn.  He was one of the two brothers ripped from his mother’s arms by the rushing water in Staten Island.  Please keep them and their families in your prayers.  Also, five of our schools are unable to reopen yet due to serious storm damage.

In an effort to offer assistance to those who are so desperately in need at this time, the diocese is coordinating a collection of nonperishable food items.  They are to be dropped off in parish churches from where Catholic Charities will be picking up the donations and distributing them where they are needed.  Also, the Veterans’ American Legion Post on Leonard St. is organizing a collection of soap, toiletries such as shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes, disposable diapers, and cleaning supplies such as mops, brooms, buckets, Lysol, etc.  These items may be brought to school and they will be picked up later in the week for distribution.  For the most part, our SSKCA families were spared the wrath of the storm but so many others in our diocese were not so fortunate. We need to do our part as caring Christians to pitch in and help however we can.   

As a reminder, our handbook states that whenever we experience bad weather and there might be a question as to whether or not school is closed, please check our website!  I post the announcement as soon as I am informed that we are required to close.  I have also contacted our new class parents each day this week and asked them to follow-up and be sure that all parents in their child’s class have received the notification.  Do not call the school since there won’t be anyone in the building to answer your call.  This morning, as I was walking into church for Mass, I saw two of our students dressed in uniform, carrying a project poster and walking back home from school.  I asked them if they had checked our website to find out that school was closed until Monday.  They said they forgot.  That was their parents’ responsibility to check before sending their children out of the house.

Attached please find a copy of a graph displaying our latest NY State test scores and how we compare to the NYS and NYC public schools as well as the other Catholic schools in our diocese.  I am very proud of our students and teachers for working so hard in order to produce such impressive scores.  Since no one is perfect, there is always room for improvement and we will continue to work hard so that the results of the 2013 tests will be even better. Parents, I ask that you assist us with this goal by encouraging your children to read daily for pleasure.  The more they read the better their ELA results will be. Whether playing basketball, piano or reading, improvement can only be achieved through practice.

Last month was very busy here at SSKCA with various fundraising events.  The results follow:

•  Meet the Parents Dance                                 $915.00
• Yankee Candle sale                                        $4,265.00
• International Night                                         $2,350.00
• Scholastic Book Fair                                       $1,251.95

Our sincerest thanks to everyone who helped make these profits possible.

I am also very proud of our students for raising $950.00 on Denim Day for breast cancer research.  The day helped them to practice one aspect of what they are taught in a Catholic school, namely, compassion for others.

Our 3nd, 5^th and 8^th graders went on class trips to the aquarium and the 5^th and 6^th graders had a class trip to the Cradle of Aviation Museum.  International Night this year was very well attended and I am certain that everyone enjoyed the class presentations and perhaps even learned a fact or two about some of the countries represented.  The students finished the month with a Halloween party for the little ones followed by a Halloween dance for the older ones.  Everyone seemed to have a great time and many of the costumes were amazing!

Now for a few reminders:

• Summer uniforms may no longer be worn until spring.
• Besides the usual half-day of school for the monthly faculty meeting, we have an additional half-day on November 14^th.
• The first tuition raffle drawing scheduled for All Saints’ Day had to be postponed.  It will be held on Friday, November 9^th.
• Please keep our 8^th graders in your prayers since they will be taking the Catholic high school entrance exam, TACHS, on November 10^th.
• We look forward to seeing you at our second annual Religion Fair on November 15^th at 7:00 PM.
• On November 21^st, we will be having a Thanksgiving prayer service in church at 11:00 am and ask that every child bring in the non-perishable food item that will be assigned to their class.  These items will be used to prepare Thanksgiving baskets for the needy in our neighborhood.
• There will be a special $2.00 Dress Down Day on Friday, November 9^th.  Proceeds will be used to purchase raffle prizes for the upcoming Andrzejki Dinner Dance.
• The problem with Stop and Shop seems to have finally been resolved so parents who shop there may register our school on their store card.

In closing, my wish for all of our SSKCA families at this time of year is for continued bountiful blessings from our Lord so that we may have much to be thankful for, not just at Thanksgiving but all through the year.

Sincerely,

Mrs. C

October 1, 2012

Dear Parents,

It seems as though we had just returned to school after summer vacation and already the first month has flown by and I find myself writing the first monthly update letter of the year.

There are a few new dates that need to be added to the school calendar:

• Denim Day – Friday, October 19^th

Our school has participated in this annual national event for a few years now.  On Denim Day, for a fee of $5.00, students may wear jeans/denim to school instead of their uniform.  The money we collect from Denim Day is sent to the organizers, the Lee Jeans Co., who use it for research leading to a potential cure for breast cancer.  Participating in such an event provides our students with an opportunity to practice what they learn here at SSKCA, namely, to care about others.

• Teacher Professional ½ days – October 10^th and Nov. 14^th

Instead of the professional whole day off that we usually have every fall, this year we are having 2 half days of school.  Students will have their regular classes in the morning and, after they go home at lunch time, the teachers will have additional training in the new Common Core State Standards that we are required by New York State to adopt in our classrooms.

I would like to take this opportunity to clear up an apparent misconception that arose after the parent orientation meeting when I had mentioned the CCSS.  These new standards are not required just by the diocese of our Catholic schools.  They are required by the state of New York along with 47 other states of our country. Every school in these states, whether Catholic, public, or private, is required to adopt these new standards.  We plan on arranging a parent meeting in November where we will explain the standards further as well as introduce the new report cards.  In the meantime, please feel free to check out information about the standards on the NYS  special website, www.engageny.org. 

We are in need of 2 moms who would be able to assist Ms. Rewekant, the mom who has been taking care of our Box Tops program for the past few years.  It is getting to be too much for one person to handle.  If you are interested, kindly leave your name and phone number/email with Hania in the office. Time spent working on the Box Tops counts toward service hours.

Also, the students and I would truly appreciate one or two dads volunteering to paint two hopscotch patterns in our parking lot for the students to enjoy during recess.  This activity would also count towards service hours.

The teachers and I have noticed a few instances of non-compliance with the uniform rules.  Girls are not permitted to wear dangling earrings to school.  This is a safety rule. Also, sneakers are not school shoes and are not permitted to be worn with the regular uniform.  The only exceptions are gym days or boys wearing the summer shorts.  Regarding the shorts, we would hope that common sense would prevail.  If a child needs to wear a sweater, sweatshirt, jacket, etc., that is an indication that it is not warm enough to wear shorts to school.  If this continues to be a problem, an amendment to the handbook will be issued.

Our Little Blessings Playgroup opens this week on Wednesday, October 3^rd, from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM.  Children from the crawling stage to under 3years of age are welcome to come with their moms or caregivers for some playtime while their moms socialize.  The fee is $5.00 per child per visit to cover the cost of snacks/ materials.  Kindly spread the word to your friends or neighbors who might be interested in such a program.

Thank you to all the parents who came to our first Meet the Parents Dance last Saturday.  It was so nice to see you there and watch as you were having an enjoyable evening.  As people were leaving, many said they had such a nice time they would love to have us host such an evening more often.  As a result, we are hoping to have another such Parent Night Dance after Easter.

Best wishes for a wonderful autumn season!

Sincerely,

Mrs. C 

September 7, 2012

Dear Parents,

Welcome to a new school year at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy!  I hope that you and your family have enjoyed a restful summer and are now energized for a new year of growth through learning.

During these first days of school, the youngest child in each family will be bringing home a copy of the calendar for this school year and an updated Student/Parent Handbook. Kindly check the calendar on a regular basis so that you are aware of important scheduled school events.  After reading the handbook with your child/children who are currently students in our school, in order to become familiar with current policies at SSKCA, please sign the forms located in the pocket of the handbook folder and return them to your child’s teacher by Friday, September 21, 2012.  They include the Handbook Compliance Form, Acceptable Use Policy for Computers and the Internet Compliance Form and the Blanket Photo/Video Permission Form. The Emergency Contact card that every student receives needs to be completed and returned by Wednesday, September 12^th.

The bishop has requested that every family complete a Parish Affiliation Form (copy attached).  The completed form is to be returned to school by Friday, September 14, 2012.

The current New York City Department of Education Income Eligibilty form is attached.  We are required to ask our families to complete this form every year in order to be able to obtain funding from NYC for our school’s computer program.  The information you provide will be kept strictly confidential.  Kindly return the completed form in a sealed envelope to your child’s teacher by Monday, September 17, 2012.

Our first Pizza Friday of the year will be September 14^th.  The cost remains the same as last year.  If you would like your child to enjoy a slice of pizza for lunch on Fridays, the $2.00 per slice fee is due to your child’s teacher by the Thursday before. NO pizza money will be accepted in the school office!

This year we will continue to ask for your help by collecting Box Tops symbols from the package of many of the grocery items that you purchase for your family.  A complete list of the products that are part of this program may be found on their website, www.boxtops4education.com.  If you do any shopping on the internet, you may also earn eBox Tops. Details may be found on that website as well. 

LabelsForEducation.com is another website with information about that particular program through which you can help our school.  If you have a Target credit card, please register it so that each time you use it a donation will be made to our school.

We are investigating a few other opportunities where retailers are willing to help schools through purchases made by parents.  Details will follow as soon as they are available.  

We look forward to seeing you at this year’s Parent Orientation Meeting on Monday, September 17^th, at 7:00 PM.  Also, our Board of Directors Parent Fundraising Committee is planning a new event, a buffet dinner dance, for Saturday, September 29^th, at 8:00 PM.  It is intended as an opportunity for parents to meet fellow parents and spend an enjoyable evening getting to know one another.  Details will be sent home soon. 

In closing, I pray that the Lord will send His Spirit to guide us through the journey of the coming school year and lead us to a successful culmination in June.

With love and prayers,

Mrs. Cieloszczyk

(Mrs. C)

Dear Parents,

I hope that you and your family have had a wonderful and blessed Easter! We are now entering a very busy time here at school. New York State tests began this week for grades 4, 6 and 8. Seventh graders will receive the sacrament of Confirmation on April 29th. Our Drama Club’s performance of Grease is scheduled for May 4th and 5th. The third graders are getting ready to receive their First Holy Communion on May 12th. The annual school Spring Show is scheduled for June 1st and on June 3rd we will have our second Family Fun Day. Shortly after these events, students will be preparing for final exams and graduations! The school year is quickly coming to an end.

I would like to take this opportunity to update you on recent events. During the month of March, our school had a variety of fundraisers. The profits from these events are as follows:

• Supermarket Bingo – $5,525.00
• Talent Show – $695.00
• Breakfast with the Easter Bunny – $1,069.00

Our sincerest thanks to all the parents who donated their precious time to work on these events and to those who donated raffle prizes. We truly appreciate your kindness!

On Thursday, May 3rd, representatives from our uniform company will be here between 9:00 – 10:30 am to measure students who need new uniforms. Since many parents have been donating their children’s uniforms that no longer fit, we are planning on having a uniform swap on Monday, April 30th, so parents will have an opportunity to see if there might be a uniform in a size they need that they can swap for a uniform that no longer fits.

Since the weather has been so unpredictable lately, should we have school days before May 1st (the date in the handbook when the school polo shirts may begin to be worn) where temperatures are predicted to climb to 85 degrees or higher, the polo shirts may then be worn.

Since the winter this year was so mild that we did not need to use any snow days, we are able to close school on Thursday, May 17th, for Ascension Thursday and Friday, May 18th for a Teacher Professional Day. Our last day of school for this current school year will be Wednesday, June 20, 2012.

Best wishes for a wonderful spring season!

Dear Parents,

I hope that everyone had a rejuvenating winter break last week so that we are now well prepared as we approach spring and the final third of the school year.

February, although it is the shortest month of the year, was very busy here at St. Stan’s. We raised $6, 123.00 at our annual Walk-a-thon school fundraiser. The third graders earned a pizza party for raising the highest amount, $1,278.00. Caitlyn Goodman in grade 3 was the grand prize student winner of a $150.00 gift card to Toys R’ Us for raising $810.00, the highest individual amount. The other student winners were:

• Emily Casiano (PK-4) – $75.00 gift card to Toys R’ Us
• Amelia Zych (gr. 3) – $50.00 gift card to Best Buy
• Nicole Hawro (gr. 4) – $25.00 gift card to Best Buy

We collected $3,433.00 from our annual World’s Finest Chocolate Sale and are still waiting for $550.00 that a few families still owe. The top selling class was grade 2 with a total of 33 boxes sold. The top student sellers were:

• 1st prize: Scott Cloonen (PK-4) – 14 boxes
• 2nd Prize: Alexandria Hungreder (gr. 6) – 12 Boxes
• 3rd Prize: Sonny Consolazio (K) – 8 boxes

Our sincerest thanks to all our families who participated in these fundraisers!

The adult Valentine Dinner/Dance was a huge success with 281 people in attendance. The event raised $11,945.00 for our school. We are extremely grateful to all the parents who gave their time and talents to make this dance so successful. Combined with the other two adult dances of the year, a grand total of $35,269.00 was raised!

We also held a special Dress Down Day last month in order to raise funds for Mr. Simon Sutowski, the uncle of three of our students who had been paralyzed last year in a swimming accident. He was left a quadriplegic as a result. A total of $675.00 was raised by our compassionate students for this cause.

Upon returning to school this week, I had the pleasure of opening a letter informing us that Stanley Wieckowski, our 8th grade winner of our school National Geographic Bee, after taking a written test, has qualified to represent our school and participate at the state level of the bee to be held at the end of March in Albany! We congratulate Stanley on this accomplishment and will be praying that he will achieve success at the state bee. Should that occur he would then take part in the national level of the bee in Washington, D.C. in May. That bee will be televised with Alex Trebek of Jeopardy fame asking the contestants their questions.

For your information, below is a comparative chart of our school’s New York State test results in English Language Arts and Math from the spring of 2011. The chart shows how our students scored compared to NYS public schools, NYC public schools and the other schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn. As you can see, our students scored considerably higher in almost every category! We are very proud of them as well as our teachers for their hard work in preparing the students for these exams, especially since we offer our students a well-rounded education by teaching all the major subjects, not just focusing on math and English since those are the subjects tested by the state.

¹ includes all Public and Charter Schools in NY State – no Nonpublic Schools data
² only NY City Public Schools – no Charter Schools, no Nonpublic Schools data
³ Schools in the Diocese with appropriate grade levels tested

During Catholic Schools Week, per student request, we had a Subway Sandwich Day. The students enjoyed their special lunch so I agreed to have such a day once a month. However, due to lack of cooperation by some students in bringing their order slip and money to their teacher by the due date, there was quite a bit of confusion when the order arrived where children who did follow the rules did not get a sandwich while those who brought their money after the due date or whose parents handed it in to the office took their sandwich first. As a result Sr. Joanne had to make a special trip to get extra sandwiches since we ran out. As a result, from now on, when we have any special food orders, only those students who give their order slip and money to their teacher by the due date will be able to enjoy the special lunch. Unfortunately, in fairness to all, no exceptions will be made!

In closing, I look forward to seeing you at our Social studies Fair on March 13th and our Talent Show on March 23rd. I also pray that the Lord will lead us by His Spirit to embrace more fully the Lenten season disciplines of prayer, fasting, and generous giving as we prepare for His glorious rising on Easter.

Sincerely,

Mrs. C. Cieloszczyk

November 30, 2011

Dear Parents,

I hope that you and your entire family had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  With the first Sunday of Advent already behind us, Christmas is quickly approaching.  It is always a very busy time of year, both for you at home as well as for us in school.

To begin my December update letter, I’d like to mention a few items that occurred in November.  Congratulations to our school Intermediate Math Bee winner, Aleksander Prasak in grade 6.  The annual Andrzejki Dinner/Dance was a huge success with 235 people in attendance.  Thank you to all the parents who assisted in making this important fundraiser possible.  SSKCA’s first Religion Fair showcased our students’ many talents as they prepared projects on various themes of our Catholic faith.  The first three winners of our November Tuition Raffle were chosen and they are:

            Blair Maxey                grade 6

            Carmen Kujawska       grade 7

            Brandon Scott             grade 8

Congratulations to them and good luck to the next three winners who will be chosen on December 6^th, the feast of St. Nicholas.

Regarding December information:

• The Christmas dance for grades 4-8 scheduled on the calendar for Friday, December 2, has been canceled. 
• On Wednesday, December 7^th, the school photographer will return to take photos of any students absent on the original picture day as well as make-up photos.
• December 7^th is also an early dismissal day due to the monthly faculty meeting.  It had inadvertently been left off the school calendar.
• On December 9^th, any students that accompany their parents to Parent/Teacher conferences must either stay with their parents quietly the entire time or wait in the auditorium.  No students are to be running around in the halls, on the stairs or hanging out in the basement.

The correct times for the sessions are 12:15-2:15 PM and 5:30-7:30 PM.

• Tickets will be sold in advance for the Christmas Show on December 16^th.  Upon entering the building that night, tickets must be handed in at the ticket desk before any parent may escort their child up to the classroom or enter the auditorium.  Ticket order slips will be sent home in a few days.

Our school policy is that as long as temperatures are above 32 degrees and it isn’t very windy, the children will go out for recess.  They need to get some air, move around and socialize with their classmates.  Therefore, kindly be sure that your child comes to school properly dressed.  We find that often, especially those students who are driven to and from school, are not always dressed appropriately for spending recess outdoors.

We are in need of parent volunteers to assist with the New Year’s Eve Dinner/Dance.  This is a major fundraiser for our school and cannot be successful unless we have sufficient help.  All of our families benefit from the success of these dances. Without the profits from these dances, tuition would need to be raised in order to make up the difference.   The next meeting of the planning committee is scheduled for Tuesday, December 6^th, at 6:30 PM. Please try to attend. 

In closing, I pray that the infant Jesus, who is truly the reason for this season, will bring you and your family love, joy and peace this Christmas as well as throughout the coming new year!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Cieloszczyk

October 28, 2011

Dear Parents,

The past month has been very busy here at St. Stan’s and November promises to be just as hectic.  This letter serves as the monthly update.

Unfortunately, the adult Halloween Dinner/Dance school fundraiser scheduled for this weekend has been canceled due to lack of interest.

We’ve had a variety of fundraisers this month that have been quite successful.  Denim Day raised $925.00 for breast cancer research.  The Yankee Candle Sale raised $6,096.95 for our school while International Night resulted in proceeds of $2,116.00.  Our sincerest thanks are extended to all those who helped support these important fundraisers!

We ask that our parents, along with their families, friends, and coworkers, continue to collect Box Tops.  An updated list of products carrying the Box Tops symbol may be found in the main lobby of the school as well as on their website, www.boxtops4education.com.  In addition, those parents who regularly shop in Target or Stop and Shop may register their cards with those stores so that every time they make a purchase, a percentage of their total will be designated for our school.  We also ask that parents send in their used printer ink cartridges since we can receive a credit for them on school cartridge purchases.  Toner cartridges from copy machines are also accepted.  Every potential source of funds adds up!

Our Board of Directors is planning an alumni reunion evening on Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM.  They have asked if parents who are alumni would be willing to help out that evening while they mingle with classmates they may not have seen since graduating.  If you would be able to assist them, kindly send me a note so I may forward the info to them.  Also, they would like to have a short presentation by some of our students that evening.  Therefore, I have asked Mrs. Martinelli, Mrs. Ippolito, and Mrs. Zito to have their classes repeat their International Night performances and Ms. Bozena to have students repeat their Proud to Be an American number from last year’s Spring Show.  I ask that the parents of students in those grades sign the permission slip that will be given to their child and return it to us as soon as possible so that we know which students to rehearse with.

On Tuesday, November 1^st, the Feast of All Saints, we will be attending the 9:00 AM Mass.  Friday, Novemeber 4^th, will be a special Dress Down Day.  Funds raised will be used to purchase raffle prizes for the upcoming Andrzejki Dinner/Dance on Nov. 19^th, which is a major school fundraiser.  On Tuesday, November 22^nd, at 7:00 PM, we will conduct our first Religion Fair in our auditorium and we cordially invite you to attend.

By now I am certain that you have heard about the new vending machine in the auditorium which we made arrangements for in response to parent requests for healthier snack choices for the children.

A gentle reminder that only PK3 and PK4 parents are permitted to go to their child’s classroom in the mornings.  No other parents may go upstairs without a prior appointment with their child’s teacher.  Should you need to speak to the teacher then you must either wait downstairs until the teacher comes down, send a note with your child, or email the teacher.  Also, if your child forgets to bring in lunch and you then need to bring something for your child, kindly do not bring a hot fast food lunch.  It isn’t fair to the other children who have to eat their cold sandwich while  smelling the fragrant aroma of someone else’s hot French fries, etc.

Please keep our 8^th graders in your prayers as they prepare to take the important high school entrance exams this month.

Since the holiday will be here shortly, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving!  May the Lord shower you with a bounty of blessings.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Cieloszczyk

September 26, 2011

Dear Parents,

I am sending the October update letter home a bit early since a few issues have come up that need to be addressed.

Due to very poor attendance, effective Monday, September 26, 2011, St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy will no longer have an after-school program.  Instead, the YMCA will run an after-school program in the St. Stan’s annex building on Driggs Ave., the same building where our students attend gym classes.  Interested parents need to stop by the Y on Meserole Ave. or at our school office  to pick up an application.  Their prices are comparable to what we had charged and they offer financial assistance to those families that  qualify.  Currently, they are only accepting children who need the service Monday through Friday.  However, they have assured me that they are working on adding the service for whatever specific days  parents may require.  I will keep you posted when that addition goes into effect.

It will no longer be possible to order pizza on Friday mornings.  All pizza money needs to be given to the classroom teacher no later than Thursday of each week in order to allow sufficient time to calculate the total order.  Pretzel money must be turned in to the classroom teacher by Friday mornings since the final order for Monday must be called in by Friday afternoon.

We will observe Denim Day this year on Friday, October 7^th.  This annual event is sponsored by the Lee Jeans Company.  For a donation of $5.00 students may wear jeans to school that day.  It has become a tradition to, when possible, wear something pink as well.  Students who participate will receive a pink ribbon pin to wear, the symbol of breast cancer awareness.  All money raised is donated for breast cancer research.

On Sunday, October 9^th, the annual St. Stan’s 5K Race will take place.  This year, Mr. Frank Carbone, the chairman of our Board of Directors and organizer of the race, has announced that all funds raised will be donated to our school.  He is in need of adult volunteers and the time that any of our parents would be able to offer will count towards your hours of service for SSKCA.  Kindly contact Mrs. Diane Lupenowicz, a race committee member, at 718-389-7039, for information regarding meetings prior to the race.

There was an error inadvertently made on the school calendar regarding Picture Days.  The reminder slip from the photographer has the correct dates.  Group and club photos will be taken on October 12^th while individual and graduate photos will be taken on October 18^th.

We have changed the box tops dress down policy.  This year, students who receive dress down slips for bringing in 25 box tops will only be permitted to use one such dress down per week. 

All those who have signed up to march with our school in the Pulaski Parade on Sunday, October 2, 2011, need to meet in the school auditorium no later than 12:00 PM.  We will walk together to the buses that will take us to Manhattan.  Once again, only those children and parents who have sent in a permission slip and intend to march may accompany us on the bus.  Parents who do not plan on marching must make their own travel arrangements.

We  hope that you are having much success with the Yankee Candle Sale.  The candles and accessories make wonderful Christmas presents!  There is no tax added to the cost of the items since we are a tax-exempt organization.

There will be a meeting of all those parents who are interested in helping to plan our first adult Halloween Costume Dance on Monday, October 3^rd, at 7:00 PM in our school auditorium.  This is another opportunity to add volunteer service hours.

I look forward to seeing all of you at our International Night this month on the 21^st.  The children are working hard to entertain you with their performances that night.

Sincerely,

Mrs. C

September 21, 2011

Dear Parents,

The Andrzejki Dinner Dance planning meeting that was announced for Monday, September 26^th is being changed to Tuesday, September 27^th, at 6:30 PM in the school auditorium.  We invite all parents who are able to help us with this important school fundraiser to attend this meeting.  Please remember, being able to speak Polish or being able to cook are not requirements.  Everyone involved in making these dances possible does speak English and there are many areas where your assistance would be greatly appreciated, such as decorating, setting tables, serving food onto platters, etc.

The grade assignments for parent volunteers for student school dances follows:

Sept. 23^rd, Welcome Back Dance                   Grades 4, 6, 8

Oct. 28^th, Halloween Dance                            Grades 5, 6, 7

Nov. 9^th, Thanksgiving Dance                        Grades 4, 7, 8

Dec. 2^nd, Christmas Dance                              Grades 5, 6, 7

Jan. 6^th, Student New Year Dance                 Grades 4, 5, 8

Feb. 10^th, Valentine Dance                             Grades 5, 6, 7

April 20^th, Spring Dance                                 Grades 4, 5, 7

June, End of Year                                           Grades 4, 6, 8

The Class Parent Committee chairpersons will assign responsibilities to the volunteers when they arrive at the dances.

Just a reminder that the signed Statement of Acknowledgement of the Code of Pastoral Conduct and the Authorization for a Background Search that were provided at Monday’s Parent Orientation Meeting are due by Wednesday, September 28, 2011.  If there are any parents who were not at the meeting or who did not get a copy of these forms but would like to volunteer at school during this school year, extra copies of the forms are available in the office.

Sincerely,

Mrs. C            

vv

September 7, 2011

Dear Parents,

It seems that most people, children as well as adults, agree that this past summer flew by.  A new school year is already beginning and it promises to be an exciting journey of discovery and learning.

This week every student will be receiving an Emergency Contact form that must be completed and returned to school by Monday, Sept. 12^th.  The youngest student from each family will also be receiving a school calendar as well as an updated Parent/Student Handbook.  The handbook needs to be read by every student and parent in order to become familiar with SSKCA’s current policies.  The forms found inside the back cover, namely the Handbook Compliance Form, Acceptable Use Policy for Computers and the Internet Compliance Form and the Blanket Photo/Video Permission Form  must be signed and returned by Friday, Sept. 23, 2011.

Our annual World’s Finest Chocolate Sale will begin in January this school year while the Yankee Candle Sale has been moved to begin in September in order to ensure that all orders will arrive early enough for the holidays.  Also, there has been a change in the dates printed on the calendar for our Scholastic Book Fair.  It will begin on Sep. 18th instead of in November.  In addition, our calendar does not list the dates for the New York State tests since they were just announced at the end of August.  They are:

• April 17 & 18         ELA grades 4, 6, & 8
• April 23 & 24         Math grades 4, 6 & 8
• May  24                  Science Performance gr. 8
• May  30                  Science Performance gr. 4
• June 4                     Science Written grades 4 & 8

On Monday, Sept. 12^th, after recess at 12:30 PM, we will be having a 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Prayer Service in the auditorium.  You are cordially invited to join us for this solemn remembrance of those who lost their lives on that tragic day.

Attached to this letter is a copy of the 2011-2012 New York City Department of Education Title I Income Eligibility Form.  In order to receive funding from the city for our computer program, every family is required to complete such a form annually.  The information will be kept confidential.  Upon completing the form, kindly return it to the office in a sealed envelope.

Lastly, also attached to this letter is an order form for tickets to the Mets vs. Phillies baseball game to be played in Citifield on Friday, Sept. 23^rd at 7:10 PM.  The event is the latest Brooklyn / Queens Catholic Schools Night where a portion of every ticket purchased by our families will be rebated back to our school.  If you would like to purchase tickets to this fundraising game, kindly complete the form and return it to school by Wednesday, Sept. 14th together with a check payable to St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy.

As we begin this new school year, we pray for the Lord’s blessings that will enable us all to always do our best in order to have a successful year.

With love and prayers,

Mrs. Cieloszczyk