July 31, 2023
Dear Families of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School,

We are two weeks from the first day of the 2023-2024 school year! Time to double-check that uniforms fit, snack items are well stocked and start backing up bedtime for those early morning rides to campus.

Our campus has that “new school year” feel more than ever this year. The entire campus has new flooring with new carpet and waxed floors. With the new carpet, we are asking that all snacks be “dry snacks” (Kindergarten and up) and students only bring water to drink in the classrooms. We want to take good care of our updated rooms! 😊 In addition to the upgraded flooring, we have completed our three-year initiative to update all classroom furniture. We had over thirty parents on campus this past Saturday putting together the new furniture in the Pre-K3, Pre-K4 and Kindergarten classrooms. And our middle school science lab is ready to welcome our 6th-8th grade scientists! A special thanks to Mrs. Cindy Bierbaum and Mr. Adam Meyer for spearheading this large project. We have the best families!

There is a lot of great information in this issue. Please read carefully! And please pray for our teachers as they return to campus this week and prepare to welcome your students on August 14th!

Only by His Grace,

Veronica Tucker
All families are asked to review the Family Handbook prior to the start of the 2023-2024 school year. Please note: Some of the indexing is wrong and we are working to update. Items highlighted in blue are changes from previous years.
MEET THE TEACHER
Thursday, August 10 | 4:00 – 6:00 PM (Doors open at 4 pm)
  • ï»żMeet teachers and learn classroom assignments.
  • Pick-up yearbooks, purchase Spirit Shirts, purchase middle school PE Uniforms, drop-off medication to nurse/clinic, learn more about Geomar lunch program and Beyond the Bell, pick-up used uniforms, and learn about volunteer opportunities in the gym.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Monday, August 14 | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Doors open at 7:40 am)
  • There is no car line on the first day of school. Students should be dropped off and picked up in their classrooms.
  • There is no Beyond the Bell on August 14th.
SPIRIT DAY AT CRUST PIZZA ALDEN BRIDGE
Monday, August 14th | Open 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
  • Join your friends for lunch or dinner on our half-day! Be sure to let them know that you are supporting St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School when you order and a portion your purchase will be donated back to the school.
SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL
Tuesday, August 15 | 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM (Doors open at 7:40 am)
  • Feast of the Assumption. Students will attend Mass and should wear official school uniforms.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL REMINDERS
WHAT DO I BRING TO SCHOOL?
School supplies have been purchased in bulk and will be in the classroom when students arrive. Students need to bring a zippered backpack and lunchbox if they are bringing snack/lunch to school (lunch is not served on the first day of school). Information about snacks will be provided by the classroom teachers. Backpacks must be large enough to hold textbooks and a 9 1/2” x 11” folder but small enough to fit into classroom cubbies or middle school lockers as storage space is limited. We highly encourage Pre–K & K students to have non—rolling backpacks due to safety concerns. Please label backpacks and lunchboxes.

UNIFORMS, SHOES & DRESS CODE
Uniforms are required beginning on the first day of school. Here are a few reminders:
  • Shopping for socks and shoes will be easier if you read the requirements first and refer to dress code in the Family Handbook (Page 82) and the uniform color chart.
  • Before getting back to school haircuts, please read the requirements.
  • Uniform information is available at: ap.school/uniforms
IMPORTANT – Uniform and dress code infractions are reflected in conduct grades.

ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL REMINDERS
  • There is no car line on the first day of school. All students should be dropped off and picked up in their classrooms.
  • All families will receive car line numbers, tags and instructions at Meet the Teacher.
  • Arrival & Dismissal Form for walkers & bikers should be filled out and turned in at Meet the Teacher or on the first day of school to teachers or front office.
  • Car line will begin on the second day of school (August 15). Please review the Arrival & Dismissal Instructions & Diagrams so you are prepared for a safe drop-off or pick-up.

DISMISSAL CHOICE SURVEY
For the 2023-2024 School Year we are continuing with 4 Dismissal Options for students: Carline, Personal Pick-up (in the rear of the school), Bike/Walk, or Beyond the Bell (after-care).
  • There are 4 options for afternoon dismissal: Carline Pick Up, Personal Pick Up, or Walker/Biker, or Beyond the Bell. Walkers & Bikers must complete the permission form below and turn into the front desk prior to the first day of school or students will not be allowed to leave campus.
  • Please choose one dismissal option that will serve as the “default” option for your family.
  • Any changes from the default dismissal option should be communicated to the classroom teacher and to attendance@ap.school by noon of that day. This allows teachers time to check email and direct your student to the correct dismissal line. Please try to keep dismissal changes to a minimum.
  • PLEASE COMPLETE THE DISMISSAL CHOICE FORM BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 4TH.
BEYOND THE BELL (Before & After Care)
The August and September calendars are available on our website at: ap.school/beyondthebell. If you plan to use Beyond the Bell during the months of August and September, please complete the calendars and email to Charlotte Aldrich at caldrich@ap.school. Payments are invoiced through FACTS© accounts. There is no Beyond the Bell on the first day of school (August 14th). 
 
SUMMER REQUIRED READING
You still have time to finish up your summer reading. Requirements and forms are posted on the school web site, ap.school/summer–reading–lists. Please keep summer reading logs and projects at home until teachers ask for them.

ABSENCES
Parents are required to contact the school office at attendance@ap.school by 8:30 AM on the day of an absence or in advance, if known. Calls made by students are not acceptable. If a student’s absence is not confirmed by 8:30 AM, the school office attempts to contact the parent to verify the student’s whereabouts. Please let us know in advance if your child will be absent due to a scheduled appointment.

CAMPUS SECURITY & SCREENING: VISITORS & VOLUNTEERS
Access to school building during school hours is through the main entrance only. Other entrances including those into the Bishop Sheltz Fellowship Hall are locked for the safety and security of our students, staff, and visitors. All visitors, including school parents are required to check in through the school office and show valid picture identification. Visitors approved to enter the building will be issued nametags that must be worn while on campus. 

FACTS FAMILY PORTAL
Our school management system is FACTS FAMILY PORTAL (ParentsWeb©) – a private and secure parents’ portal that allows parents to see academic information specific to their children, while protecting their children’s information from others. If you went through the online enrollment process, you should already have a FACTS FAMILY PORTAL Login.
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  • FACTS FAMILY APP - The FACTS Family App is 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.
LUNCH PROGRAM
We are pleased to welcome Geomar© back as our hot lunch vendor. Lunch service will begin on the second day of school. Orders and payment must be placed through their website at geomar.h1.hotlunchonline.net. You can access their website directly or through a link on the school web page. Online menus are available for viewing, and orders must be placed at least 2 days in advance to ensure that enough meals are prepared each day.
Students may bring lunches from home. Information about snacks will be provided by the homeroom teachers. Students do not have access to cold storage, heating appliances or utensils.
 
MIDDLE SCHOOL CHROMEBOOKS
We are excited once again to offer our middle school students the use of Chromebooksℱ to enhance their educational experience. The purpose of this 1:1 Chromebookℱ Program is to have a seamless integration between technology and the curriculum in order to promote a 21st century classroom. This device is for educational purposes only. If you have any questions about our Chromebook program please contact our Information Technologist, Arlene Failde.

ATHLETIC PROGRAM
Calling all cross country, soccer, football and volleyball players!
Practices start: 
Cross Country: 5th-8th Grade Boys and Girls-Tuesday, August 15, 6:30-7:45 AM
Football: 6th-8th Grade Boys-Tuesday, August 15, 3:45-5:45 PM
Soccer: 5th-8th Grade Boys and Girls-Monday, August 14, 3:30-5:30 PM
Volleyball: 6th-8th Grade Girls-Monday, August 14, 3:30-5:30 PM
All athletes must have a current physical on file at school before they will be able to participate.
VOLLEYBALL COACH POSITION AVAILABLE
St Anthony of Padua Catholic School in The Woodlands is seeking knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and passionate individual to serve as 7th/8th Grade JV/Varsity Volleyball Coach, for the 2023 upcoming fall season. SAOPCS volleyball practices occur weekdays at 3:30 PM and games are on Mondays and Wednesdays at 4:30 PM. Practices begin mid-August; games begin late August, and the volleyball season runs to mid-October. Please contact Coach Dale Quickel at dquickel@ap.school for more information.
PADUAN PARENTS & VOLUNTEERING
We are very excited to announce the return of familiar faces as our Paduan Parent Coordinators for the 2023-2024 school year! If you have any questions about our school and getting involved, please contact any of our coordinators. They might not know all the answers, but are willing to help you figure them out and welcome you to our St. Anthony Community!
Mary Mounce
Cell: 832-693-5414
Early Childhood
Paduan Parent Coordinator
Michelle Brennan
mimibbbrennan@gmail.com Cell: 504-237-4747
Elementary
ï»żPaduan Parent Coordinator
ï»żJennifer Smithson
Cell: 346-224-4117 
Middle School
Paduan Parent Coordinator
SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING (VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENT)
Our school requires anyone wanting to participate in volunteer activities to complete Safe Environment Training. As a community of faith it is our moral responsibility to safeguard children, the most important gifts God entrusts to us. NOTE: All volunteers/parents must be current with safe environment training in order to participate in volunteer opportunities within our school.

Safe Environment Program - The CMG Safe Haven online training consists of training videos that is approximately 60 minutes and will include a criminal background check that must be completed. These trainings will be available in English and Spanish. For more information about completing Safe Environment Training please visit: https://ap.school/safe-environment-training
CAR LINE VOLUNTEERING
We are 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.
ROOM PARENTS & OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
If you haven't already indicated your interest in Paduan Parent volunteer roles or Room Parents, please fill out the form at the button below. We will finalize Room Parent & Leadership assignments when classes begin! If you already filled this form out earlier this summer or at the end of the school year, there is no need to fill it out again unless your interests have changed.
SPIRIT WEAR
2023-2024 SPIRIT T-SHIRTS - $20
Students may wear Spirit Shirts with jeans on planned Spirit Shirt & Jeans days and other designated days throughout the school year. A portion of our t-shirt sales will go towards supporting various ministries as we continue to focus on "Love One Another" as our mission this year. T-shirts are Bella+Canvas brand.

T-shirts will be available for purchase and pick-up at Meet the Teacher on August 10th and will be billed to your family's FACTS account.
SQUADLOCKER SPIRITWEAR
Our school Spirit Store through SquadLocker features items for the whole family. Our school will receive a percentage of all sales to benefit our programs on campus. Outerwear items may be worn by students over uniforms.
SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL
COMMUNITY PARTNER PROGRAM
Our school would not exist without the support and engagement of our community members and businesses. Thank you to the following organizations for their early commitments as 2023-2024 Community Partners!

Folder Sponsors:

We are still seeking businesses to help sponsor All Saints STREAM Day, Healthy Dolphin Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, and more! Please click the link below to learn more about this program. Questions, please reach out to Katie Tressel, Advancement Coordinator at advancement@ap.school.
GIVING BY LIVING
Through just living your life and making purchases at these businesses, you can raise money for our school and students. These are the simplest ways to support our school!

STAOPCS students, parents and teachers have been collecting Box Tops coupons through the BoxTop app and earning money for our school. 

Personalized labels are great for uniforms, water bottles & lunchboxes! Never lose your student's items again! Visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and search for St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School to place your order and support our school!

Raise money for St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School simply by shopping at Minted. Enjoy 20% OFF Minted holiday cards & custom gifts using code FUNDRAISESAPCS. We'll earn 15% of the proceeds from every order - it's that easy! Minted also has personalized labels & backpacks now!
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The Mouse Detectives - Disney Vacation Planning
The Mouse Detectives will make a $25 donation to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School for every Disney Destination package* booked by family and friends of St. Anthony’s!  Walt Disney WorldÂź is a popular destination for many families, and this is a great way for you and The Mouse Detectives to support St. Anthony’s while planning your magical vacation! This fundraiser is offered year round, so you can book or plan at any time, and our school will still benefit! The Mouse Detective for your school is: Megan Thomas, megan@themousedetectives.com, 713-677-4678 

RestoPros of Northwest Houston
Unfortunately disasters occur when you least expect it and during or after these incidents there can be a heavy loss to property, especially after a flooding event. If you find water in your home where it shouldn't be, RestoPros is here to help you get on your way to recovery. We will remove saturated and non-recoverable items such as drywall, insulation, flooring and cabinets and dry out everything else to minimize further damage and potential mold growth. We offer free inspections and work with all insurance carriers. For every caller that mentions St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School, RestoPros will donate 10% of the final sales value to the school. Contact Stephen Guion, stephenguion@restoprosnwhouston.com, 713-202-4200. 

Regularly throughout the year we partner with local restaurants and earn between 10 – 20% of the total sales brought in by St. Anthony of Padua families on our assigned days/night. The money earned goes toward the Fund for St. Anthony and our students throughout the year. Our first Spirit Day is August 14th at Crust Pizza Alden Bridge!
Enjoy your last few days of summer! See you soon!
(281) 296-0300
7901 Bay Branch Dr.
The Woodlands, TX 77382