Dear St. Agnes School Parents,
Our students gathered today at 1:15 p.m.
for our annual May Crowning. This liturgical service
honors Mary as Queen of Heaven and earth. We look to
her as the model for us all in responding to God’s will in
her life even when she didn’t understand God’s choice of
herself to be the mother of Jesus. The month of May,
in our Catholic Church, is dedicated to Mary. When was
the last time that we prayed a family rosary? The
rosary is a prayer used to reflect on the Mysteries in the
life of Jesus and Mary. The repetition of the Our
Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be throughout the rosary become
like a mantra, words that are prayed over and over so that
our thoughts can be given to reflecting on Jesus’ life and
ministry and Mary’s role in the Church. There are
rosaries here at school that have been given to us by Sr.
Mary Alice at Sacred Heart Convent if anyone would like a
rosary. Please have your child come to the office.
In today’s Newsletter is a reminder of how to pray with the
rosary.
We also honored today our eighth graders
who begin their final month’s journey with us at St. Agnes.
They received their class ribbons today, ribbons that mark
them as the St. Agnes 2008 graduates. We hope that
students will wear them proudly during these remaining
school days.
Events that are approaching for the
eighth graders include:
May 20 – Eighth grade Alumni Breakfast for
students and teachers
in the Parish Hall (8:30 a.m.). Includes induction into the St.
Agnes Alumni Association and an Alumni Speaker.
May 21 – Eighth
grade Awards Assembly in the school gym (9:00 a.m.)
Students will be dismissed after the assembly.
Graduation in the Church followed by a reception in the
Parish Hall (7:00 p.m.).
May 22 – Class trip to Six Flags (8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.)
May
23 – Graduation Dance (7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.)
Parents are asked to speak with their
children about the school policies for cell phones.
Students are abusing the privilege of having cell phones at
school for emergency calls to parents after school hours.
Text messaging that is done during school hours will be
considered cheating and result in a zero for that day’s work
in whatever class it is taken away. Students who
handle other students’ cell phones for any reason will
receive a principal detention. Cell phones are to be kept in
book bags out of sight for the day. They are not to be
on during the school day.
As we enter the last month of school, I
want to share with you some faculty changes that we will
have for the 2008-2009 school year. It is with deep
gratitude that we say good-bye to another teacher and staff
member who were not announced the evening of the Art Fair.
Ms. Meghan Cadagin, our preschool teacher, will be leaving
after her two years of teaching in our preschool program.
Ms. Cadagin has been a “natural” as a preschool teacher.
The loving, caring and positive learning environment she has
provided for our “little ones” have been very evident to all
who have witnessed her teaching. I thank her for the
life, spirit and heart that she has brought to this
position. Ms. Cadagin, a St. Agnes Alumni has returned many
gifts to her school. We will miss her but wish her
God’s blessings in her next teaching assignment.
We also say farewell to Mrs. Karen Colomb
who has been the office secretary for the past two years.
I am very grateful to Mrs. Colomb for the welcoming spirit
she has brought to this position. She is always very
inviting to those who come and go from the office.
This position requires a “multi-tasking” that takes great
energy and skill. Mrs. Colomb and her family will be
moving back to St. Louis where most of her family is
located. I thank her for all she has given to the St.
Agnes families and to myself as we worked together.
Her presence and giftedness will be missed by us all.
Even as
we end one year, it is important to plan for another.
I would like to announce some changes in staff positions for
next year. Mrs. Andrea Rupnik who has been in 2A will
be moving to the preschool position, Mrs. Traci Knisley who
has been teaching 6th grade Literature will be
moving to the second grade position (this move was a request
of the teacher), Ms. Kimberly Magowan will be teaching Art
for grades K-8, and Mrs. Jackie Rocco who has been a
classroom aide in the third grade for the last nine years
will be the new school secretary.
I have already started interviewing for
the positions we need which will include:
eighth grade Literature and Religion, sixth grade Literature
and Religion, an Art aide, classroom aides for kindergarten,
first grade and an aide who assists fifth and sixth grade
teachers. Please call me if you are interested in any
of these positions or refer teachers who might be looking
for teaching positions.
At this time of the year, we will be
enforcing policies and using detentions for infractions not
behavior forms. The behavior forms have little effect
this final month of school. By now, students are very
aware of the policies that they should be following.
Thank you to our school families who
assisted with the Holy Name Men’s Club Chicken Dinner last
Sunday. Volunteers were short this year so the men
were very grateful for the assistance. I commend all
of our children who assisted. You were great servers!!
Faith Reflection: “Perhaps there
is someone you dislike but whom you have to see each day.
What would happen if you sent that person a small card of
greeting? What would happen if you invited that person
out for a cup of coffee?
What would happen if you bought that person a
flower? God would smile. That’s what would
happen!”
-Christopher de Vinck
May God smile on us all!
Sr. Joan
|
