Dear St. Rose School Families:
Catholic Schools have such a special place in my heart, both as a parent and an educator. Long ago my wife and I made a commitment to send our sons to Catholic school and it became evident to us in our teaching careers that this was also the most ideal environment in which to share our skills.
People often remark about the difference in pay scale at a Catholic School but I believe that the richness of a multi-faceted education that incorporates faith and is designed to develop the total person is invaluable. What a gift it is to feel God's presence in every aspect of our day; we pray together and build community bonds that are deep rooted and truly unique. It is upon these shared values and beliefs that we forge a foundation that strengthens students for a life time. Despite many changes that occur through the years, this bedrock remains the same. You have only to ask the St. Rose School alumni who go as far back as 60 years, and their answers concur...in these halls we become like a second family. We are challenged to the highest academic standards and grounded in the deepest teachings of Christ with a focus on family and service. We are an integral part of the vital
Catholic School tradition that has shaped and continues to shape the lives of children who go on to become responsible, faithful adults who make the world a brighter place. So, let us embrace all that we love about Catholic schools and join together in celebration during the week ahead.
This is my last push for Open House. Our doors will be open to all on Sunday January 27th,
1:00-3:00 PM. Please share the word and encourage your friends, family and neighbors to stop in and discover why St. Rose School might be a great fit for them. Word of mouth is our most effective marketing tool. If you have not had a chance to view these videos about the Catholic School Fit please do and feel free to send them along. Thank you.
We are delighted to welcome the newest member of our school community, Thomas Aquinas Ortega, who arrived on January 20 and is the littlest brother of Kolbe in Mrs. Wojtowicz's Four Year Old class. May God bless Thomas and the entire Ortega family with health and happiness.
Despite the ice storm last weekend, progress continues on our infrastructure upgrade. The crews are hard at work ensuring that all the right wiring is laid and plans are in place for the most effective placement of the PA, phones, wifi and camera systems. I am so impressed by and thankful to the town of Newtown for working with us on the project to ensure that all necessary wires cross smoothly. This is especially key as we establish remote access to our school security cameras by the Newtown police. Be assured we are in very good hands.
As I announced earlier this week, Officer Mike Brokaw will be retiring as of February 8th. I know you join me in wishing him well deserved happiness and peace in this new chapter. We are so grateful for his service and protection of our St. Rose School community over the years and look forward to seeing him on campus from time to time. A search for our new Security officer is underway and we are working closely with the Newtown Police and the Diocese of Bridgeport to identify the right person for the job. Student safety remains my top priority so there will never be a lapse in security coverage during this time.
We have a week of exciting activities planned and I hope that you will take part in as many of them as you can. The Knowledge Bowl this afternoon was lively and informative -- I was impressed with the students' performance and delighted that some parents got involved proving they are quite knowledgeable too. As they say "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Congratulations to the Green team for the final win!
On Monday we will have a Pep Rally and the famous Pig Races. Please send your child in with a non perishable food item for the Faith Food Pantry. Thank you. Tuesday morning we have invited our community leaders in for coffee and student tours. So far we know that Police Chief James Viadero, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal and Representative Mitch Bolinsky will be joining us. We are grateful to these leaders for their ongoing commitment to our town and support of St. Rose School.
You can find a full list of Catholic Schools Week activities below. My sincere thanks to all of the teachers, parents and students who are putting so much effort in to making our celebration meaningful. I know the HSA has many treats planned as well and am most appreciative of their time and dedication. I hope you will come to the Family Night they are planning on February 1st -- I will be there and hope to enjoy some quality time together.
Please keep an eye out for a letter from me regarding registration for the 2019-2020 school year early next week. It has and continues to be my great pleasure to be a part of the St. Rose School community; I am committed to making every student's experience an exceptional one and look forward to continuing our journey together.
Now, let us all rest up and get energized for the exciting week ahead!
God Bless,
Mr. Bardhyl Gjoka
Principal
