Dear St. Rose School Families:
I was so happy to be back in the halls and classrooms this week, observing the exciting lessons our students are learning. In Mrs. Zmek's Third Grade class students were examining fossils and meteorites and I could see the light of discovery on their faces! Over in the Science Lab our 8th graders were absorbed in an experiment to extract DNA from a strawberry. Second graders studied proper nutrition and healthy eating by measuring how much sugar is in a can of soda. Hands on learning makes lasting impressions and encourages a curiosity that fosters future endeavors. Our students are making great strides as we prepare them for tomorrow.
I'm sure that our Middle School students and parents are feeling a sense of relief. I am pleased to say that Mid Term exams ran smoothly and the students took them very respectfully. My thanks to the teachers for the time and effort they put in to preparing our students for the exams and for the work entailed in grading them. I am also grateful to parents for ensuring that your children were well fed, rested and on time. Team work is key as we strive to provide our students with an exceptional learning experience.
Plans for Catholic Schools Week are shaping up. We will kick off with a school-wide Knowledge Bowl on Friday January 25th followed by our OPEN HOUSE on Sunday January 27th, 1:00-3:00 PM. I hope I can count on everyone to help us spread the word so we have maximum attendance. I have included the links for two important segments:
The Catholic School Fit: A Parent's View and A Student's View that are worth watching and passing along. Thank you! A full schedule of Catholic Schools Week activities was emailed today and is also included in this newsletter. You can plan for a Pep Rally on Monday the 28th where our teams will be introduced and the famous Pig Races will take place; on Wednesday the 30th we will have a Faculty vs. 8th Grade Beach volley ball game at 1:00 PM. Please join us for the fun!
Our school family continues to grow! This week we welcomed Preschoolers Cloe Walton and Brek McGrady as well as Fifth grader Pablo Necco and I am happy to say they are settling in nicely. Next week former student Isabella Criscuola will return to our Sixth grade class and Anna Cardita
will join Mrs. Damalas' Fifth grade class. Isabella's brothers Jack and Ryan are in Kindergarten and Fourth grade so we are delighted the whole family will now be at St. Rose School and Anna is coming to us from the Brookfield public schools. We hope both girls will feel a warm welcome and look forward to helping make their transition a smooth one.
There are a few housekeeping notes to address before we head in to the long weekend:
* The parent portal viewing option will be turned off at 5pm on Friday so that end of the quarter and semester grades can be calculated and report cards generated.
* For the current quarter and going forward in order to achieve Honors or High Honors students will need to have a 1 or 2 in conduct; grade requirements remain the same.
* Due to construction at the church, the school will not attend mass on Fridays in January and February. Instead we will use this time for prayer services, service outreaches and other community building activities for our students. Thank you for your patience; we realize that Friday mass is a highlight that many anticipate each week. This is just a temporary change and we look forward to sharing that special Mass time as a school community again when the renovation is complete. We will keep you posted.
Now it is time to take a break from school and enjoy a long weekend with your family and friends. We remember to focus on peace as we recall Dr. Martin Luther King and his contributions to our country. Please stay safe in what looks like a brewing storm.
When we return on Tuesday it will be the official start of the Third quarter -- let us all work together to make it a productive and kind one.
God Bless,
Mr. Bardhyl Gjoka
Principal
