Dear Families of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School,

Well…We did it! One week down! Only about 35 to go! 😊 I love the first week of school. So much excitement and anticipation. Uniforms look so nice and haircuts are looking sharp for the new year! If your house is like my house, the excitement can lead to a crash in the evenings. And I know the heat doesn’t help either! I just want to thank all of you for all you do to make the first week run smoothly even when we have schedule changes, traffic construction, indoor dismissal, severe heat and more. You’ve stayed smiling and supportive and I’m so grateful.

On Tuesday, we gathered together in the church to celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Father Jesse connected this year’s theme of “Love One Another” to the Cube of Love and demonstrated how Mary so beautifully lived a life of pure love. Along these same lines, as we continue to honor Mary, I wanted to share a quick video by Father David Michael Moses who spoke to our faculty and staff during our In-service Retreat. I hope the message is impactful for you as it was for me.

Fr. David Michael Moses - His Mom Can Handle It

Have a wonderful weekend!

Only by His Grace,

Veronica Tucker

Principal 

EARLY CHILDHOOD & ELEMENTARY PARENT INFO NIGHT

Thursday, August 24 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm

• There will be a "State of the School Address" from Mrs. Tucker at 6:00 PM in Sheltz Fellowship Hall, followed by 3 Classroom Sessions at 6:30 PM, 7:00 PM, and 7:30 PM to visit your student(s) Early Childhood or Elementary Classrooms.
• Administration, Support Staff, and Auxiliary teachers are available to visit with you anytime from 6:30-8 PM.
• Parent Information Night is designed for parents only.

WHAT'S BREWING WITH MRS. TUCKER

Informal grade-level meetings with Mrs. Tucker. Meetings start at 8:15 AM in the Paduan Center/AMR (unless otherwise noted). Bring your own coffee!

ARRIVAL REMINDERS

• To walk your child to the school door, you MUST park in the rear of the school near the playground and use the rear entrance. Please access this area from the driveway near the St. Theresa Center.
• Car line ONLY is located in the front parking lot of the school.
• Please review the Arrival & Dismissal Instructions & Diagrams so you are prepared for a safe drop-off or pick-up. Share instructions with babysitters, grandparents and relatives who assist with arrival or dismissal.

DISMISSAL REMINDERS

Once our standard dismissal procedures begin (car line and personal pick-up), please make sure you are aware of the following:

Car line (students loaded into cars)

• Please have your car line number visible at all times. This helps our staff quickly navigate your students to their cars.
• If you do not have the current year’s tag or do not have a tag at all, staff will direct you to the front office for ID verification. Homemade signs or photographs of key tags are not permitted. Additional carpool signs are available from the front desk: attendance@ap.school.
• If you need to buckle children into car seats, please pull forward into the Parish Life Building parking lot. Do not exit your vehicle when in car line.

Personal pick-up (students picked up from the gym)

• Gates for Personal Pick-up will not open until 3:15 PM.
• Please have your yellow car line sign or yellow key tag to show the door attendant.
• If you do not have the current year’s tag or do not have a tag at all, staff will direct you to the front office for ID verification. Homemade signs or photographs of key tags are not permitted. Additional carpool signs are available from the front desk (attendance@ap.school).
• Please review the Arrival & Dismissal Instructions & Diagrams so you are prepared for a safe drop-off or pick-up. Share instructions with babysitters, grandparents and relatives who assist with arrival or dismissal.

FACTS FAMILY APP

• Make sure you download the FACTS Family App! Available for both iOS and Android, the app is a great way to have quick access to important information that you would normally find in the FACTS Family Portal—grades, billing, school calendars, and more. Search for St. Anthony of Padua TX in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or use the button below. Be sure to allow notifications! More features will be added throughout the school year!
• When you click on an item in the app that will access FACTS information (grades, directory, financial, etc.), you will be prompted to log in with your FACTS Family Portal credentials. You will also need to use our district code: SATY-TX. The app will keep you logged in for 30 days, after which you will need to log in again for security purposes. 
• If Family Portal users have not updated their Family Portal passwords in a while, you should do so on a browser prior to logging in to the app’s Family Portal features the first time.

Please make sure you report any absences to Attendance (attendance@ap.school). If your child has a reportable illness please let attendance or Nurse Pavlock know (i.e. COVID, Strep throat, Flu, Staph infection). REMINDER: A child must be fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication before they return to school.  

If your child has a well check throughout the year and receives any vaccinations, please provide an official/stamped copy of their updated immunizations (a print out from the patient portal is not considered official per the state of Texas).  

Please make sure we have the most current phone numbers for parents or emergency contacts in FACTS.

NURSE NOTES

For 8/14/23 - 8/18/23

1st Grade - reported case of COVID

ART CLUB

Wednesdays | 4:00-5:00 PM | Art Room

Open to 4th & 5th Grade

Starting Sept. 6. 4th & 5th Grade students are invited to join Art Club! Fee is $20 and will include a t-shirt. Due to overwhelming interest this club is limited to 12 students per semester and students may only sign-up for 1 semester. Possible projects include: batik, tie-dye, acrylic pour painting, marbled paper, book making and basketry. ART CLUB REGISTRATION

AWAKENING! BIBLE STUDY

Tuesdays | 7:15 AM in Paduan Center

Open to 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

Starting Sept. 12. This is an optional and non-commitment Bible Study that will occur every Tuesday morning at 7:15 AM in the Paduan Center. Students who want to attend are asked to meet outside the Paduan Center doors with their Bible and a notebook. If you have any further questions please email Mrs. Martin at kmartin@ap.school.

CHESS CLUB - FACILITATED BY USA CHESS

Mondays | 3:45-4:45 PM | Library

Open to 1st-8th Grade

Starting Monday, Sept. 11. All 1st graders and up are invited to join Chess Club with USA Chess. Cost is $130 per semester. All skill levels. Learn tactics and strategies. Rank up and earn prizes! CHESS CLUB REGISTRATION Questions? Contact info@usachess.com

MASS CHOIR

Wednesdays | 6:50 AM | meet in Fellowship Hall

Open to 3rd-8th Grade

Starting August 23. Meet every Wednesday in the Fellowship Hall at 6:50 AM, rehearse in the church before school, and sing during Mass. The commitment continues through the academic year. If your child would like to participate, please fill out the online form. Questions? Contact Mrs. Lienhard at jlienhard@ap.school.

Important Dates

August 23: First Mass Choir Practice & National Anthem Demo Recording Day.

September 22: National Anthem at the Astros Game

December 9th: Lessons and Carols at Frassati

STUDENT ROSARY GROUP

Tuesdays | 7:15 AM in Fellowship Hall

Open to 2nd-8th Grade

Starting Sept. 12. We are offering a great way for your student to start their school day! This will be a wonderful opportunity for our school family to pray the rosary together. No need to register, just show up!

STRINGS CLUB

Mondays | 3:45-4:30 PM

Open to 3rd-8th Grade

Starting Sept. 18. Calling all beginning violinists and experienced musicians who play violin and other string instruments! St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School strings club ensemble will be meeting on Mondays from 3:45-4:30 PM. Join Mrs. Verspieren (11:00 AM Mass violinist and Frassati Catholic High School Teacher) and Mrs. Lienhard to learn and make music together. Instrument rental information will be available at the first meeting. Cost is $40. Questions? Email Mrs. Verspieren at: Verna.email@gmail.com. STRINGS CLUB REGISTRATION

ZUMBA® KIDS JR. CLUB

Mondays | 4:00-4:30 PM

Open to 3rd-5th Grade

Starting Sept. 11. A high-energy class for boys and girls packed with kid-friendly routines that combine choreography and aerobics. Based on original Zumba® choreography, we’ll dance to culturally diverse music from around the world (reggaeton, salsa, merengue, cumbia and hip-hop). Join Señora Johnson as we improve our endurance, instill healthy habits, and develop strength and coordination! Cost is $20. ZUMBA REGISTRATION

More information about Robotics and Sacred Soles Run Club coming soon!

ROOM PARENTS

We will be notifying Room Parent volunteers of assignments early next week! Once Room Parents are finalized, we will have a Room Parent Orientation on August 30 at 10:00 AM.

If you are interested in serving as a Room Parent and you haven't already volunteered, please let advancement@ap.school know as soon as possible.

FROM MRS. MARTIN - JOIN CORE TEAM

I am very excited to be the new Middle School Religion Teacher and Religion Coordinator for St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School! I am so grateful to be a small seed that is part of your student's journey to the Kingdom. I'm excited to continue the wonderful path Mr. Cayanan set before me and to start new things at our school. 

One new thing we will be adding this year is our very own "Core Team" for our school. When I was a teen on retreat, the Core Members who volunteered their time were such a witness to God's love and helped create an environment for me to encounter the Lord. Retreats are not possible without Core Members.

I am looking for a few faith-filled and passionate parents who are wanting to help put on retreats by leading small groups, helping pass out snacks and truly empowering students to grow in their relationship with God. 

If you are interested in joining or want more information on Core Team, please email me at kmartin@ap.school and I will be happy to talk with you about it!

CAR LINE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We are still seeking volunteers to assist on a regular basis with morning and afternoon car line.

• In the mornings, volunteers will help with directing traffic and assisting students safely out of their cars. Volunteers will need to be present from 7:30AM - 8:05AM.
• In the afternoon, volunteers will assist with lining up cars and directing traffic. Volunteers will need to be present from 2:45PM - 3:30PM. 
• All volunteers must be in compliance and complete Safe Environment Training. More info is available at: https://ap.school/safe-environment-training

If you are able to help once or twice a week, we are extremely grateful! Thank you for being a dedicated volunteer to our school.

WISH LIST - 2023-2024

Are you interested in making an immediate impact for our students? We have created a list of classroom or school-wide items that we would like to purchase! As a school we will be working to fund these items through the Fund for St. Anthony but if you would like to give to specific items, you may give online at the link below. A gift through our Wish List also counts as Fund for St. Anthony Participation (more on the Fund for St. Anthony to come)!

8/21/2023 - Morning Assembly in the Gym, 8:00 AM

8/22/2023 - Parent Rosary (English), PLB 204, 8:15 AM

8/23/2023 - Mass Choir Practice, 6:45 AM, Meet in Fellowship Hall

8/23/2023 - What's Brewing with Mrs. Tucker- 8th Grade, AMR, 8:15 AM

8/23/2023 - Mass, 9:00 AM, Church

8/24/2023 - Parent Rosary (Spanish), PLB 204, 8:15 AM

8/24/2023 - PARENT INFO NIGHT | Early Childhood & Elementary, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

8/25/2023 - Spirit Shirt & Jeans Day

8/29/2023 - Parent Rosary (English), PLB 204, 8:15 AM

8/30/2023 - Fall Individual Pictures (Students & Staff)

8/30/2023 - What's Brewing with Mrs. Tucker- PreK-3, Library, 8:15 AM

8/30/2023 - Mass, 9:00 AM, Church

8/30/2023 - Room Parent/Volunteer Orientation - PLB 205, 10:00 AM

8/31/2023 - Parent Rosary (Spanish), PLB 204, 8:15 AM

8/31/2023 - PARENT INFO NIGHT | Middle School, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

9/01/2023 - RAISE YOUR COLLEGE FLAG (2023 Gala Auction Item) - Students may wear any military branch shirt or camouflage shirts with jeans or uniform bottoms in honor of raising the flag for West Point!

9/04/2023 - LABOR DAY - SCHOOL HOLIDAY

Full Calendar available in ParentsWeb!

AMERICAN HERITAGE GIRLS

St. Anthony's American Heritage Girls (AHG) Troop TX1180 hosted an interactive information night earlier this week. Experience first hand the FAITH, FUN, and SERVICE that is the core of AHG by "traveling" through the program areas that reflect Faith, Service/Citizenship, Leadership, Life Skills and Outdoors. For more information regarding American Heritage Girls, contact ahgtroop1180@gmail.com.

CUB SCOUTS

Ready to begin your Cub Scouting Adventure? Cub Scout Pack 1180 is for boys in Grades K-5 and includes a number of scouts from St. Anthony and other nearby schools. Scouting is "fun with a purpose" - developing character, citizenship, leadership, fitness, and faith through activities and adventures. The Pack has Fall and Spring campouts, a Pinewood Derby race, and more! Contact pack1180@gmail.com for more info. A New Parents Welcome and Orientation Meeting will be held on August 28th.

CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF AMERICA CHILI FEST

Catholic Daughters of America is holding their annual Chili Fest here at St. Anthony of Padua on Saturday Oct. 14 at 6 pm. CDA would love it if school staff was represented. If you are interested in putting together a chili team, it only costs $25 to enter. What a deal! 😊 It is a lot of fun and great team building opportunity. If you have any questions or are interested, please reach out to Lory Barnhill at barnhilllory@gmail.com.

ECYD GIRL'S CLUB - FIRST MEETING & INFORMATION

Current 5th - 8th Grade Girls

Friday, Sept. 8 | 6:00-7:30 PM | $140 per year | REGISTER HERE

Sts. Simon & Jude - Youth Room in Event Center

Join us for the first meeting of 2023-2024. Parents please stay to learn more about the group for 2023-2024. ECYD is an international Catholic association of adolescents who make a pledge of friendship with Christ and with each other to build up a new world according to the Gospel. https://www.ecydhouston.com/

FAITH & FLIP-FLOPS AT BIG RIVERS WATERPARK & ADVENTURES

Come out for a day of Praise & Worship on Saturday, Sept. 23rd.

Group Rate of $19.99 per person (minimum of 15 per group). For more information contact Big Rivers Group Events Department at 832-509-1833 or email Events@bigriverswaterpark.com.