June 11, 2008
Dear Parents,
“Send the Holy Spirit to guide us as our school year ends and we go our separate ways. Let us feel your presence each day. Let our hearts be filled with love for you so that we may act with love toward others. Amen.” These are the words of final blessing that close our final school Mass of the year. Our students have learned many lessons this year, especially the important ones.
A FEW HIGHLIGHTS: We recently sent our eighth grade and kindergarten classes off with many accolades. Among the other students are many noteworthy achievements that we have shared in the past few weeks here. First graders read more than 1000 stories. Second grade prayed dozens of decades of the rosary and went “Around the World” in math with ease. Third grade hosted a wax museum of saints and celebrated the mastery of multiplication facts. Fourth grade showed special care for their kindergarten prayer partners and camped out to read books. Fifth grade trained to be safety patrols and put some reports up on the web. Sixth graders paddled kayaks to Ft. Washington and opened a restaurant in math class. Seventh grade climbed Old Rag and saw black bears. In all of these endeavors students were successful because they worked together toward a common goal. Congratulations on a very good year!
BLUE RIBBON ACHIEVEMENT: The Terra Nova test scores for students in grades 2 through 7 will be sent home today with final progress reports. I am pleased to report that our students continue to earn scores that place our school in the top ten percent of schools in the nation in math and reading achievement. We continue to meet the criteria for a Blue Ribbon School. Congratulations to students and teachers!
SUMMER INFORMATION: Our school office will be open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon beginning June 23. You will receive a letter around the first of August with information about the upcoming year and we will post information on our website. Mrs. Eleanor McCormack will become the principal as of July 1. The first day of the next school year for students in grades 1 through 8 will be August 25, 2008.
ACTIVBOARD UPDATE: Your support of our goal to put an Activboard in every classroom has been wonderful. On June 17, six more boards will be installed for a total of 18 boards in our school! This puts STM in the forefront in classroom technology. Thank you!
SUMMER READING: Reading for pleasure helps us all improve our skills and expands our horizons. Please encourage your child to read books of his or her choice. See the teachers’ reading lists or visit http://thepbs.org/pages/summerreading.htm for ideas.
May God bless our wonderful faculty and staff, our amazing students, and you and your family with a restful summer. I know that He will continue to bless our school and shepherd STM into an exciting new year.
May God bless you and your family.
Kathy Swinehart
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