THE FRIDAY REVIEW

St. Rose School

March 4, 2022

"The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace."

• - Psalm 29:11

Greetings from Mr. G

We began our Lenten journey together on Wednesday and the Lenten Mission is underway. Together we are walking with Jesus as we reflect more deeply, give more selflessly and love more openly. We hope you can join us for in person Mass next Friday, March 11th at 9:00 a.m. Your presence is a gift.

Let me express my sincere sorrow and offer prayers for our brothers and sisters in the Ukraine. We know that 17 Sisters from the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Sister Thaddeus' community, are there ministering to the community. May God protect them and all who are in the midst of this tragedy.

Mrs. Ferriter found a way to bring hope and peace to our halls through an exhibit of exceptional artwork by children (ages 5-16) in the Ukraine. These pieces were secured through Fermata Arts, an international art program focused on bringing peace through Art, prior to the beginning of the war. We see such beauty and potential in the work of these students; they are the light in this darkness. Visiting the exhibit gives our students a way to relate to these children and an opportunity to discuss the current situation in age appropriate ways. Mrs. Ferriter's Art classes are engaged in creating art work with the theme "We are the world" that will eventually be sent to children in the Ukraine.

Given the world situation, I am ever more grateful for the blessings of our St. Rose School community. Students come to school happy and eager to learn. We have a safe campus with dedicated teachers, supportive parents and so many wonderful opportunities. This week the 8th graders celebrated 100 days until graduation -- what a joyful day! They are wonderful students headed toward bright futures. It was also Read Across America week. Our halls and classrooms were bursting with books and celebrations of Dr. Seuss. Reading is such a treasure for all ages.

As I mentioned last week, we are gearing up for the return of our parent volunteers. Please prepare by checking the status of your Virtus training. You can contact Mrs. Sweeting

with questions. In addition, there will be a training session that all parents who want to volunteer are required to attend. We are working with the Newtown Police Department so that a Safety Officer can be present to share important information. The tentative dates are Thursday March 10th, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. and Tuesday March 15th, 5:45-6:45 p.m. Once we confirm the dates and times we will let you know.

I was so happy to hear about the success of our HSA's Sweetheart Dance and the return of the Middle School dance. Congratulations to our Girls JV Basketball team for taking 2nd place in the St. Mary's Tournament. Thank you to all who made these events so wonderful and memorable. These are the precious moments that create lasting bonds and make St. Rose School a family. On this note, please join me in welcoming the Williams family. We are delighted that Christian (6th grade) and Alexander (2nd grade) joined us this week.

Tonight our Knights of Columbus are having a Fish Fry which is open to all. And please remember that school is closed on Monday, March 7th, for a Professional Development day.

Have a great weekend.

God Bless,

Mr. G

HELP WANTED

Substitute teachers needed! Seeking qualified, reliable people to cover grades Preschool - 8th grade when teachers are out.

After School Care Monitor needed! Our After School Care program is growing. We are looking for a person who can work 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Mondays-Fridays.

If you are interested in either or both of these positions, please send your resume to [email protected]. We would appreciate it if you can share the word.

Thank you.

PRESCHOOL CORNER

Oh the places they go! Our Preschool students celebrated Dr. Seuss and continued their exciting learning journey through many hands on activities this week.

Welcome Ms. Mary Parise, assistant to Mrs. Ashley Schaff, Transitional Kindergarten.

Preschool photos

Dates to remember

March 7th -- No School, PD day

NURSE NEWS

Important Reminder: St. Rose is a

NUT FREE School!

❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Important letter from Nurse Bonnie regarding Covid symptoms, quarantine update. Please read.

HELP!!!

BLOOMS FUND NEEDS $42,000 to REACH $150,000 GOAL by June 30, 2022!

It's a BIG task for a GREAT cause -- your children! Every year we need to raise $150,000 to balance the budget that in turn ensures a stellar academic, faith focused education for students in Preschool - 8th grade. Outreaches such as #Giving Tuesday, the Tuition Raffle and the Help Us Continue to Bloom appeal mailing help raise these funds. Unfortunately we haven't been able to host a gala in two years which is always a significant source of revenue. We are most grateful for the "angel" donations that have been a Godsend during these times. Here's how you can help us cross the finish line and plant the seeds for 2022-2023:

-Matching Gifts -- many companies offer this perk which is a wonderful boost to our Blooms Fund (thanks to those who have registered!)

-Help Us Continue to Bloom -- keep an eye out for the appeal mailing and prayerfully consider a donation. Please share the information with family and friends.

-Find potential Angel donors -- do you know someone who has the means and is a supporter of Catholic education? We would be happy to meet with them personally to share the amazing story of St. Rose School and explain how they can support many bright futures.

-Buy a Brick! Leave a lasting impression on our campus by being part of the Blooms Brick Walk directly in front of the school. Order now for late Spring installation! Welcome to St. Rose of Lima School Website (polarengraving.com) Questions? Email [email protected]

-Gap fee -- the difference between tuition and the actual cost of educating each child is $2,500.

Contact [email protected] if you are able to pay all or part of this fee which is a tremendous help.

-Have a fundraiser idea? We'd love to hear it! Email [email protected]

-Join the Mission Advancement committee to help with fundraising outreaches. Many hands are needed to keep our garden BLOOMING!

Thank you and God bless!

Important Dates & Reminders

March 6th -- 7th grade Confirmation retreat, 12:30 p.m. at Holy Innocents

March 7th -- School closed, PD day

March 15th -- deadline for current family applications to the Bishop's Scholarship Fund.

Click here.

April 30th at 9:00 a.m. -- Confirmation for St. Rose School 8th graders

Adventures in Student Life

Catholic Schools Week photos

Read Across America photos

100 Days Until Graduation photos



Classroom News

Children's Rosary dates

Updated school calendar -- please note there is NO school Monday March 7th for a Teacher PD

Click here for Lenten Calendar

Click here for Mission Drive information

St. Rose Community events

Knights of Columbus Fish Fry (Friday nights during Lent)

Columbiettes Easter Egg Hunt -- for children ages 3-10 in St. Rose School and Parish; Sunday April 3rd, 1:30; rain date Sunday April 10th, 1:30. Register at Email: [email protected] (name/age)

ATHLETICS

Way to go Girls JV -- 2nd place in the St. Mary's Basketball Tournament!

Volleyball Clinic

Team DIG Summer Camps

You've Gotta Believe Summer Basketball Campl

See flyer below for Team DIG Spring session

HSA NEWS

Happy Friday, SRS Community:

We were thrilled to have nearly 150 guests attend the Sweetheart Dance last Saturday.  It was a beautiful evening filled with love and laughter. A huge “thank you” to the committee: Candy Creighton-Duda, Abigail Ferriera, Elizabeth Hermann, Michelle McRuiz, Nivia Nieves and Carrie Sirois. We are also grateful to the local restaurants that generously supported the dance with discounts and price-fixed options.

Many thanks to Officer Perez, Mrs. B, Mrs. Sweeting, Ms. Vertucci and Mrs. Petrillo, who chaperoned the first middle school dance in more than two years!  We had a huge turnout from SRS and the local Catholic schools. It was great to host so many kids together as we resume more of our treasured traditions.

Do you wanna Bowl-a Rama with your Mama?! Calling all SRS boys and moms, please join us for an afternoon of fun on Sunday, March 27th from 2:00-4:00 PM at New Milford Lanes.  The cost of $30 per family includes bowling, lunch, snacks and dessert. Please register here to join the fun! 

Mark your calendar! Dates have been set for so many fun events:

Friday, March 11 - Bingo (together with the Knights’ Fish Fry!)

Sunday, March 27 - Mother-Son event

Wednesday, April 6 - International Dinner

Friday, May 6 - Special Persons’ Day

Monday, May 23 - Golf Outing

Friday, June 10 - Year-End Bonfire at Castle Hill Farm. More details to follow as we get closer to each event.

Volunteering for our school is a great way to give back. We are seeking candidates for HSA president at the end of this school year. We are blessed to have a dedicated and hard-working HSA board and invite you to consider whether taking on this role may be a good fit for you. Please contact us at [email protected] if you are interested in learning more.

Your HSA Board,

Kate O'Connor, President

Isabel Almeida, Vice President

Dave Budzynski, Treasurer

Carrie Sirois, Secretary