Dear Families of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School,

As we wrap up our first annual Dolphin Donor Week, I wanted to take a moment to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you. What a fantastic outpouring of generosity you have shown! At the time of this writing, we are at 95% of our Dolphin Families giving to The Fund for St. Anthony! What a wonderful testimony to the generous spirit of our school community. And if you haven’t given --- or want to give more --- you still can! Just go to: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School.

Together, we have accomplished something extraordinary. From the manipulative school supplies that will equip our classrooms to the funds that will enhance our programs to field trips to technology your contributions are making a tangible difference in the lives of our students. From enrichment to learning support to professional development for our teachers, your generosity makes a huge difference.

It’s not just about the donations we received, but the unity we’ve fostered as a family of faith coming together as “One” as our school theme testifies. Together, we are building an environment where our children can learn, grow, and thrive in faith, body, mind and spirit. Thank you for being a part of making a difference.

Finally, because of the success of Dolphin Donor Week, we enjoyed a Free Dress Day today and will have Kona Ice next Friday (November 15th). We've also reached our goal of 95% family participation and we all earn an Extra Day of Spring Break on Friday, March 7th!

Only by His Grace,

Veronica Tucker

Principal 

VISIT FROM ORBIT! On Monday, Nov. 11, the Houston Astros mascot, Orbit, will be visiting St. Anthony for a special assembly for Kindergarten through 5th grade! All students are invited to wear Astros shirts with their uniform bottoms for this fun event. A big thank you to the Barr family for sponsoring this exciting assembly! Go Astros! ⚾🐾

VETERAN'S DAY RECOGNITION

During the month of November, Saint Anthony of Padua will recognize our veterans and current military personnel by placing their names in the November 15th Messenger. Submissions must be received by Friday, November 8th to be included!

CLASS PICTURES & RETAKES

Class group pictures and retakes are on Wednesday, November 13th! Please be sure your students wear official school uniforms!

Class Picture Day Volunteers Needed – If you'd like to help ensure students look their best for class pictures—uniforms neat, hair in place, and smiles ready—please sign up to assist! Volunteers must be compliant with Safe Environment guidelines. Thank you for helping our students shine!

ARRIVAL CHANGES - Nov. 19 & 21

On November 19 and 21, our parish will be distributing Thanksgiving boxes through our food pantry, a significant project that serves thousands in our community. Due to this, we will need to alter our morning arrival procedures on these days.

Important changes to note:

• Parents will need to park and walk students in at both entrances. There will be no car line.
• Driveways off Kuykendahl will be closed for entry; all school traffic must enter through the Bay Branch driveways.
• To help manage arrivals and limited parking, we will open our school doors at 7:30 AM.

Please review the attached Thanksgiving project map for any questions regarding the changes. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation, and we ask that you be mindful of traffic and ensure the safety of our students during these busy days.

LITERATI BOOK FAIR

To purchase books at our Online Book Fair or purchase gift cards for students and teachers to use please visit: https://efairs.literati.com/?school=saint-anthony-of-padua-school-the-woodlands-tx

GRANDPARENTS DAY

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

On Grandparents Day, grandparents will spend time enjoying morning refreshments and elementary performances, visiting our book fair, participating in classroom activities, and attending Mass with their favorite students. Students will dismiss at 12:00 PM noon to enjoy the rest of the day with their grandparents. Grandparents listed in FACTS are mailed invitation postcards. Please remind your grandparents to RSVP if they plan to attend!

NOTE: Students without Grandparents attending will still participate in classroom activities and receive donuts! 

Thank you to Stainless Structurals for sponsoring our Grandparents Day!

2024-2025 YEARBOOKS

Order your 2024-2025 Yearbooks now! All orders will be placed online by clicking the banner or using the link: https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A02187515 .

DNN - Check our our DNN Broadcast from this week!

STEPS FOR STUDENTS - EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION

Registration is now open for the 20th Annual Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk supporting Catholic education!

• Saturday, February 8, 2025 | Downtown Houston

Students who join our team by Dec. 31 will get a Free Dress Pass to use for the 2nd semester - and all the t-shirts! Join our team at: https://runsignup.com/apschool25

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve reached 95% family participation for the Fund for St. Anthony!

Here’s what we’ve accomplished:

• 50% Participation – Free Dress Day on Nov. 8th ✅
• 75% Participation – Kona Ice for everyone on Nov. 15th ✅
• 95% Participation – Extra Day Off on March 7th before Spring Break! ✅

A huge thank you to our matching donors—our faculty & staff, anonymous donors, alumni families (Fruge, Bong, Wing), and the Qadir, Sloan, Zelinka, Fulton, Salinas, Brignac, and Romero families—for pledging over $108,000 in matching donations this week! 🎉 Your generosity directly impacts faculty development, technology upgrades, and campus security.

A special thank you to Jill & Ronnie Daigle for purchasing 8 yearbook cameras off our wish list! Wish-list purchases count toward Fund for St. Anthony participation, so keep those coming!

Remember – you also earn 5 Paduan Points with your participation in the Fund for St. Anthony. Be sure to track your points in FACTS!

Let’s finish Dolphin Donor Week strong and reach our 100% goal! Thank you for your continued support!

Congratulations on Mrs. Meyer, Mrs. Guion, Mrs. Fagan, Mrs. Burnette & Mrs. Gambertoglio's classes for reaching 100% participation in the Fund for St. Anthony! We are excited to announce that next week will be Free Shoe and Hair Accessories Week for your classes! 

SMART FAMILIES RESOURCES

Still not sure what Smart Families is all about? Check out the resources they have available!

Check our the Be Not Afraid newsletter archives, a monthly spiritual resource that aligns with Christian values and upholds our God-given dignity.

FELLOWSHIP SUNDAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Nov. 10

Our school is serving coffee & donuts at Fellowship Sunday on Sunday, November 10th. We need families to help serve for our parish community after 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Masses. This is a great way to earn Paduan Points and serve our parish! Students may volunteer but must have a parent or responsible adult in attendance to supervise. Parents earn Paduan Points & Middle Schoolers can earn Works of Mercy hours. Middle Schoolers must be supervised by a parent!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F45A8AF29A6FC1-52458033-fellowship#/

KONA ICE VOLUNTEERS - Nov. 15 We need parent volunteers to assist with Kona Ice on Friday, Nov. 15! Little ones may need help picking their flavors, and we’ll also need extra hands to ensure our grounds stay clean. If you're available to help, please sign up and join us for a fun, refreshing day! Volunteers must be compliant with Safe Environment training. Thank you!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F45A8AF29A6FC1-53107737-kona#/

FALL BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERING - Nov. 15-22

We are excited to announce our Fall Book Fair. Please help make our fair a success by volunteering at our fair. Volunteers will help students pick out books, tidying up displays, and may assist with checking out purchases as well.  All volunteers must be compliant with Safe Environment training. To volunteer at the Book Fair, sign-up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F45A8AF29A6FC1-book7#/

GRANDPARENTS DAY VOLUNTEERING - November 21 & 22

We are seeking volunteers to help set-up and make sure Grandparents Day runs smoothly! Please sign-up to help set-up on Thursday, Nov. 21 or with day-of activities on Friday, Nov. 22 at this https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F45A8AF29A6FC1-52104837-grandparents

NURSE NOTES

For 11/4/24-11/8/24

Pre-K4: Several students have cough/congestion (Upper respiratory symptoms). One report pneumonia as of 11/8/24.

3rd grade: One report of Strep Throat

7th grade: One report of Strep Throat and a report of a viral infection similar to hand, foot and mouth

Please be aware since last spring there was an uptick of walking pneumonia cases (across the U.S.) which is not as common in children. We did see a few cases at the end of last school year and there have been a few reports this year. We had one reported case today, but reports have been in the news recently and our Catholic Schools are seeing cases across the Archdiocese. 

Please be aware of the symptoms of walking pneumonia in children: 

Symptom onset typically is gradual and can include fever, cough and sore throat.

Younger children also may have symptoms such as diarrhea, wheezing or vomiting.

https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/30600/Mycoplasma-pneumoniae-infections-increasing-among?autologincheck=redirected

SIGN-UP PARTIES

We are thrilled to kick off the year’s Sign-Up Parties for The One Gala, happening on March 1, 2025!

For those who are new to our school, Gala Sign-Up Parties are fun events hosted by our wonderful families, faculty or friends and can focus on adults, children, or the whole family. These events are a fantastic way to meet other members of the community while supporting St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School. Best of all, every dollar raised through these parties goes directly to benefit our students and school.

Sign-Up Parties can be anything from a themed dinner party, family game night, or even a parent-child outing—there’s no limit to the creativity! Parties can be held anytime before the end of the school year, and all are welcome to host.

We need Sign-Up Party hosts! If you're interested in hosting a sign-up party, please reach out to us at advancement@ap.school. Whether big or small, your party will help make a lasting impact on our school community!

If you're ready to join the fun and purchase a spot at one of these parties, click the links below for more details and to reserve your spot. Let’s make this year’s Gala a huge success together!

COMING SOON

December 4th - Breakfast with Santa - Families

December 6th - Holly Jolly Ice Skating Party - Middle School

December 6th - Polar Express Party - Pre-K4

December 10th - Christmas Cookie Decorating with Miss Loraine

MONDAYS - Chess Club, 3:45-4:30 PM.

MONDAYS - Spanish Culture Club, 3:45-4:30 PM.

MONDAYS - Violin Club, 3:45-4:30 PM.

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

WEDNESDAYS - Parent Rosary Group (English) 8:00 AM, PLB Room 204.

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

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

WEDNESDAYS - Run Club, 3:45-4:30 PM, Sports Fields.

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. 

11/08/2024 - SPECIAL EVENT | Band Showcase, 6:30 PM, Gym

11/10/2024 - SPECIAL EVENT | Fellowship Sunday

11/11/2024 - ASTROS SHIRTS | Students May Wear Astros Shirts with Uniform Bottoms

11/11/2024 - ASSEMBLY | Monday Morning Assembly

11/11/2024 - COMMITTEE MEETING | Advancement, 8:15 AM

11/11/2024 - GALA EVENT | Astros Orbit Luncheon, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

11/11/2024 - ASSEMBLY | Astros Orbit | Kinder - 5th Grade

11/13/2024 - MASS | Memorial of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin | 3B, 8:30 AM, Church

11/13/2024 - PICTURE DAY | Classroom Groups & Individual Retakes

11/13/2024 - RECONCILIATION | 3B | OLA Chapel, 9:30 AM

11/14/2024 - ADMISSIONS EVENT | 2025-2026 Fall Preview, 8:30 AM

11/15/2024 - GALA EVENT | Parent’s Night Out, 6:00-9:00 PM

11/15/2024 - SERVICE PROJECT | Book Buddies

11/15/2024 - SPIRIT DAY | Spirit Shirt & Jeans

11/17/2024 - SPECIAL EVENT | Literari Book Fair

11/19/2024 - FIELD TRIP | Kindergarten

11/22/2024 - MASS | Wednesday of the 34th Week of Ordinary Time | Staff, 10:45 AM, Church

11/22/2024 - SPECIAL EVENT | Grandparents Day Mass, 10:45 AM, Church

11/22/2024 - SPECIAL EVENT | Grandparents Day | Noon Dismissal

11/25/2024 - SCHOOL HOLIDAY | Thanksgiving

Full Calendar available in FACTS!

To subscribe to our FACTS school calendar copy and paste this URL into your calendar app:

https://saty-tx.client.renweb.com/pwr/school/ical.cfm?u=11371&h=2D672FF8548A&s=&ut=STAFF&f2=0&sc=SAPCS&t=s

FRASSATI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES

Applications Open for 2025-2026!

Applications are open for the 2025-2026 academic year at Frassati Catholic! 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 completed online 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. Details and application process can be found at frassaticatholic.org/apply. Questions? Contact Mr. Tim Lienhard, Director of Enrollment, at admissions@frassaticatholic.org.

INCARNATE WORD OPEN HOUSE - November 17 @ 1:30-4:30 PM A High School Where Girls Lead, Learn, and Succeed

Learn about our unique Leadership and STEM programs and meet our faculty and students. Visit: incarnateword.org/admissions

CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE - November 16 at 2:00 PM Check-in at the high school gym will begin at 2:00 PM. The special presentation will begin at approximately 2:15 PM. Group tours will be offered. The event will end promptly at 4:00 PM. We look forward to hosting you and your family.