Dear Families of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School,

Happy October! I want to take this opportunity to highlight several upcoming events for our parents. Tomorrow you’ll be visiting campus for our Parent/Teacher Conferences. With the first quarter almost under our belts, this is a great time to chat with the teacher about your student’s growth. 1st – 8th grade parents will also receive NWEA test results from the Beginning of Year testing. We are so proud of how well our students performed! We have two great events on Thursday, October 12th. At 8:15 am in the Paduan Center, we will host “Talks with Father Jesse’. This is a fantastic opportunity to get to know our Pastor and ask him any questions you might have. Thursday evening, at 7:00 pm, we will host a Frassati Panel in our library. This is for any parents who want to learn more about Frassati Catholic High School and what our local Catholic high schools offers for our graduates. The panel consists of students, faculty, alumni and administration. It’s never too early to start thinking about high school, so please consider attending. We love hosting these events and hope to see you there!

Only by His Grace,

Veronica Tucker

Principal

OCTOBER FAMILY ROSARY

The month of October is dedicated to the Rosary, and after the Mass, the Rosary is the most powerful prayer at our disposal. Please sign up for a day that your family will pray the Rosary together. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F45A8AF29A6FC1-44641712-october

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!

NURSE NOTES

For 9/25/23-9/29/23:

• 4th grade: Two reported cases of strep throat
• 

If your child has a doctor’s appointment for a well check and receives immunizations, please remember to turn in an official (signed/stamped) copy to the school/clinic.  

2023-2024 YEARBOOKS

Order your '23-'24 Yearbooks now! Yearbooks are $45 and will be delivered at the start of next school year.

You may also create your own page! Commemorate your student's school year!

• Full page ad - $150
• 1/2 page ad - $75
• 1/4 page ad - $50

All orders will be placed online using this link:

https://www.balfour.com/texas/the-woodlands/st-anthony-of-padua-catholic-school

2023-2024 BASKETBALL COMMITMENT - 6th, 7th, & 8th Grades

St. Anthony needs to know how many student-athletes are interested in participating in Boys & Girls Basketball - 6th, 7th & 8th grades.

• Practices will start the week of October 23 for players not involved with fall athletics.
• The games will start mid-November and the season will run thru January.
• Due to the anticipated number of teams – teams may be scheduled to practice in the evenings and possibly some Saturday mornings.

St. Anthony would like to have a Varsity, JV & C-Team team for both Boys & Girls Basketball. Parents, it is important for you and your student-athlete to review the commitment details, the SAOPCS Athletic Handbook, and decide if it is something that you can choose to commit to by Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. At that time, we can see where we are numbers-wise and determine how teams St. Anthony will have.

All players MUST have a current Physical Exam on file BEFORE they will be able to participate. An athletics fee of $150.00 will be charged to your FACTS account.

DOLPHIN ATHLETICS UPDATE

9/30/23: C-Team Volleyball are played in the Salem Lutheran School C-Team Volleyball tournament – The Dolphins finished with a 4-2 record in pool play and received the #2 seed in the Gold Bracket.

9/30/23: Cross Country will run in the Covenant Christian Cross Country Meet - Dolphins won 7 Medals. In the 2-mile run, Boys - 6th place-Caleb Piefer, 8th place-Alan Aertker, & 10th place-Jacob Fedoruk. Girls: 4th place-Fernanda Yepiz. In the 1700 meter run, Boys: Giovanni Carrone-6th place. Girls: 5th place-Ana Lucia Yepiz, 8th place-Johanna Cabriana. 

10/2/23: Varsity Soccer vs Trinity Klein Lutheran - 2-2 tie

10/3/23: Volleyball at St. Anthony vs Epiphany - C-Team, Won 2-0; Varsity B, Won 2-0; Varsity A, Won 2-0.

UPCOMING DOLPHIN SPORTS:

10/4/23: Volleyball at St. Anthony vs. St. Theresa - Varsity B, 4:30 PM, Varsity A, 5:15 PM

10/4/23: Volleyball at John Cooper - C-team, 6:00 PM

10/4/23: Football vs St. Ambrose at St. Pius HS at 7:00 PM

10/10/23: Volleyball at St. Anthony vs. St. Rose of Lima-Varsity B, 4:30 PM, Varsity A, 5:15 PM

10/10/23: Soccer vs Regis at SAOPCS - JV at 4:30 PM, Varsity at 5:30 PM

10/11/23: Football at JPII at 4:30 PM

10/12/23: Soccer at St. Anne TB, JV at 4:30 PM, Varsity at 5:30 PM

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

We are currently seeking applicants for Substitutes – Classroom (PreK-3 through 8th Grade). If you are interested and would like to be considered for a substitute position, please contact Veronica Tucker, Principal, at vtucker@ap.school.

October 20 - EARLY CHILDHOOD PUMPKIN DAY - Sign-up Genius to volunteer will be sent out to Early Childhood families!



November 1 - ALL SAINTS STREAM DAY – Save-the-Date to volunteer for our first enrichment day of the year - All Saints STREAM Day! Sign-up Genius will be published in next week's Messenger!

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School relies on annual, tax-deductible gifts, in addition to tuition, to balance the budget each year and continue to provide greater opportunities and facilities for our children. The Fund for St. Anthony provides our school with the financial flexibility to make investments that would not be possible through tuition revenue alone. Last year the Fund for St. Anthony allowed us to update our social emotion learning program, purchase new furniture in the Science Lab and Early Childhood classrooms, upgrade doors throughout campus for better security and more! This year, we need your help to continue providing faculty development, offer current technology and resources, and add additional security (a full-time dedicated deputy)! Please consider increasing your gift in 2023-2024 to support this critical need. Thank you for your prayers and support of this effort!

PARTICIPATION UPDATE

Thank you to our early supporters to the Fund for St. Anthony - as of today we are at 10% family participation. Once we reach 90% participation, the whole school will earn an added day off on Friday, March 8th (the day before spring break)!

2023-2024 WISH LIST

If you are interested in making an immediate impact, consider purchasing an item off of our Wish List! 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!

• Thank you to an anonymous family for purchasing a drone off our Wish List!



MATCHING GIFTS

Does your employer (or your spouse's employer) have a matching gift program? If so, you can ask your company to match your support for St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School. You can double or even triple the value of your donation simply by notifying your employer of your gift.  Please contact your employer’s personnel office for eligibility requirements and to obtain a matching gift form. If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to Katie Tressel, ktressel@ap.school.

PADUAN POINTS: Families earn 5 Paduan Points when you contribute to the Fund for St. Anthony!

SHOULD I WAIT TO MAKE MY DONATION ON DOLPHIN DONOR DAY? Dolphin Donor Day (November 15, 2023) is a 24-hr fundraising event designed to encourage all alumni, faculty, parents, and friends to support the Fund for St. Anthony. Many families wait to make their gifts on Dolphin Donor Day because of matching opportunities available, but you are free to give when it's convenient for you!

MONDAYS - Chess Club, 3:45-4:45 PM, Library. 

MONDAYS - Strings Club, 3:45-4:30 PM, Band Hall.

MONDAYS - ZUMBA® Kids Jr. Club, 3:45-4:30 PM, Spanish classroom.

TUESDAYS - Student Rosary Group, 7:15 AM in Paduan Center.

TUESDAYS - Parent Rosary Group (English) 8:15 AM, PLB Room 204. 

TUESDAYS - Awakening! Bible Study, 7:15 AM, enter through Fellowship Hall

WEDNESDAYS - Mass Choir, 6:45 AM, Sheltz Hall. 

WEDNESDAYS - Sacred Soles Run Club, 3:30 PM, Sports Fields.

WEDNESDAYS - Art Club, 3:45-5:00 PM, Art Room.

THURSDAYS - Parent Rosary Group (Spanish) 8:15 AM, PLB Room 204.

Please check the calendar and/or communications from club advisors regarding cancellations or changes. 

10/05/2023 - School Conferences | NO SCHOOL

10/06/2023 - Staff Development | NO SCHOOL

10/09/2023 - SCHOOL HOLIDAY

10/11/2023 - Mass (5B), 9:00 AM, Church

10/11/2023 - What's Brewing with Mrs. Tucker-2nd Grade, 8:15 AM, Paduan Center

10/12/2023 - Paduan Pods

10/12/2023 - Talks with Father Jesse, 8:15 AM, Library - An open dialog with our pastor, Father Jesse.

10/12/2023 - Frassati Catholic High School Q&A, 7 PM, Library. Join us for a info session with students, parents and faculty to learn more about Frassati!

10/13/2023 - $5 Free Dress to benefit 8th Grade Class Gift

10/16/2023 - Morning Assembly in the GYM

10/17/2023 - SPIRIT DAY: Gringos, The Woodlands - Dine In or Take Out, ALL DAY

10/18/2023 - 5th Grade Retreat

10/18/2023 - Mass (4A), 9:00 AM, Church

10/18/2023 - What's Brewing with Mrs. Tucker- 6th Grade, 8:15 AM, Paduan Center

10/19/2023 - First Grade Field Trip to the Oil Ranch

10/20/2023 - Early Childhood Pumpkin Day, More information to come.

10/20/2023 - St. Thomas and Incarnate Word | 8th Grade Visit

Full Calendar available in ParentsWeb!

Frassati Catholic Applications Open for 2024-25

Applications are open for the 2024-25 academic year at Frassati Catholic High School! For current 8th grade students or those interested in transferring, this is the first step to becoming a Frassati Falcon - and families can get started today. Simply log in to the SchoolAdmin admissions portal, click "begin admissions process" and you'll be on your way! Following the completion of the application, applicants will have access to the applicant checklist, providing the ability to upload documents, see their application progress, and even schedule a shadow visit on campus this fall.

Middle School Football Night - October 13

Friday, October 13, is Frassati Catholic High School's Middle School Football Night. All middle school (and elementary) students get in free as Falcons Football takes on All Saints Episcopal. We'll invite athletes, cheerleaders, band and choir members to join us at points throughout the game. Gates open at 6pm, with the National Anthem at 6:50pm, and kickoff at 7pm. Tickets for adult family members on sale HERE on the Athletics page of the Frassati Catholic website. See you there! Located at St. Michael the Archangel Field at Frassati Catholic High School.

Frassati Catholic Open House - Nov. 8

The Frassati Catholic Open House is the perfect event for 6th-8th grade students and families interested in becoming Frassati Falcons. On Wednesday, November 8, from 6-8pm you're invited to the Frassati Catholic Open House for an info session and tours of campus. Learn more about Frassati Catholic, meet current students and faculty, and take the opportunity to see what life is like at a Frassati Falcon. RSVP at https://www.frassaticatholic.org/openhouse.  

PRIEST MEALS

A Meal Train has been created to help feed our priests at the rectory weekly. If you would like to sign-up to provide a meal, please click the link, review the instructions and pick a date to sign-up! https://mealtrain.com/e17zoe



EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES EXHIBIT

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 6 PM - 8 PM & SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 8 AM - 8 PM

• English & Spanish Exhibits will be in the Gym

With these few words, Carlo Acutis, the boy who died of leukemia, outlines the distinguishing feature of his brief existence: to live with Jesus, of Jesus, and in Jesus. This international exhibition was created and designed by Blessed Carlo Acutis in 2002. More info at: https://ap.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1782640

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. If you are interested in putting together a chili team, it only costs $25 to enter. More info at: https://ap.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1906279

GEN VERDE IN CONCERT

Join us for an evening with music from the International Performing Arts Group “Gen Verde” on Saturday, October 21! Doors open at 6:30 PM, Concert starts at 7 PM in the Gym. More info at: https://ap.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1906625