December 16, 2009

JUST CHECKING IN ~ DECEMBER 16, 2009

“People, look East. The time is near of the crowning of the year. Make your home fair as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table. People, look East, and sing today,
Love, the Guest is on the way…”

WE’LL BE BACK IN 2010! Remember way back when 2000 was such an amazing thing and now a decade is over? This is our last envelope until the new year as school closes for Christmas next Wednesday, the 23rd, at noon and then re-opens on Monday, January 4, 2010. May your days of Christmas be blessed ones with those that you love. We wish you peace, joy, and love.

LOTS OF GOOD CONVERSATIONS took place throughout Somerton last night—we hope! When report cards are opened and shared, there is much for parents and children to discuss. As we’ve said, your children should have ownership of their learning recognizing their strengths and their challenges. They should be able to talk about it all with you with the expectation that you will help them make goals for this second trimester based on how the first one went. Your job is to make sure the goals are measurable and realistic, For instance, not having a check under a certain area, going up a point or two in a certain subject, maintaining a good grade are very measurable goals. Remember, that we’re here to help you too.

THANK YOU, TEACHERS! Knowing that excitement level in your own homes as Christmas approaches, you can well imagine what it is like for our teachers to keep students engaged in learning during these weeks leading up to the 25th. Looking through student folders and hearing about the school day, you’ll see the creative ways that our teachers can make learning seasonal and fun. Most of all, teachers try to ensure that Jesus’ birth stays in the forefront of this wonderful magical season. The now familiar depiction of Santa kneeling before the Christ Child was created by a very wise and inspired artist, don’t you think?

HOW ABOUT ALL OUR HOME & SCHOOL HELPERS TOO? With a season as full as this one is, Michelle Wagner and Helen Bembischew along with a “cast of thousands” made of so many of you who gave up a work day to make our bazaar a time of wonder for our children, deserve a great big thank you. You can be sure that we have made Santa aware of the generosity of time and spirit which makes SCS parents so special. Our H&S Board works right along with everyone and continues to meet to coordinate plans for future events. There’s lots ahead in ’10, so you can look forward to a great new year SCS-style.

NO FREE SHIPPING, BUT… If you’re stuck on a gift or stocking stuffer, H&S would like to help by offering our 2009 Cookbook for consideration. Not only that, how about their end-of-the year bargain? $10 each or 3 for $25 and the cookbooks can come home in school backpacks. Contact Marion Lonergan at 215-969-5116 to order by Monday, December 21st.

FEEDBACK REQUESTED When we said we’d pilot bringing the AM car line drop-off closer to school until we dismissed for the Christmas holidays, we asked if you’d share your thoughts with us about it so that we’d have a sense of whether or not it is more effective or not. At this time, we’ve heard from some parents in conversation outside and at the Christmas Bazaar, but we welcome hearing from more of you if you wish. Just contact us in the way easiest for you. At this point in time, we’ll announce in the first newsletter of 2010 whether we’ll stay with the new pattern full-time or only use it when weather conditions warrant.

PEOPLE AND EVENTS Somerton won the U-8 soccer championship against Lighthouse Soccer Club last Tuesday. The names of our students on the team are as follows: Matthew Armitage, Colin Biles, Brandon Casey, Jayson Clark, Patrick Cunningham, Nick Giantomaso, Luke Glavin, Eric Jastrzembski, Colin Joyce, Lee Meringo, Bernie Rogers, Shawn Tamulis, and Shawn Trodden. Lighthouse had Colin O’Fee and Mathew Comas also SCS students. Congratulations boys and Coach Jastrzemski!
Last week we reported that the JV Boys’ had won the St. John of the Cross Turkey Shoot-Out Tournament, but you should know that the latest trophy you see in the main lobby is from our Varsity Boys’ Team for coming home the Varsity champions of that tournament. Congratulations to the entire team and their coaches Mr. McCusker and Mr. Glavin.
The SCS Swim Team did it yet again beating Christ the King by 18 points. After practice tonight, they will have practice again on Monday, January 4th, in preparation for their big meet against St. Albert the Great on Saturday, January 10th, at 8:30 AM at LaSalle University. Stay tuned! We have many fine swimmers on our team and working as a team, we celebrate them all and their accomplishments in their individual competitions.
Being named the Archdiocesan Catholic Athlete of the Week is quite an honor and we congratulate SCS alum Jessica Sylvester for earning it. It’s not only her athletic ability on the basketball court and on the softball field, but also her commitment to community service that led to her being so honored. …And to think she got her start right here!

CRITICAL THINKING 101 Whew! There were tons of correct entries and Emily Wright (K-35) had her correct entry pulled from them. Emily will receive the last $10 Gift Card of Choice certificate for the year 2009. The answer was 360 hours. Just for your own fun, you can try out the Christmas songs on the back with your families and see how you do. These have been around but it’s always fun to wonder how you could have forgotten how you figured them out before.

December 9, 2009

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel…”

OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY had a very productive gathering on Monday. With teachers from eight neighboring schools meeting by grade level, lots can happen for the benefit of all the students. Sharing Gold Seal lessons which target Quadrant D learning as their closing focus was part of Monday’s agenda. SCS hosted the first meeting in September, and this time we met at Maternity BVM. We worked together in the learning community in the morning with individual faculty meetings at the close of the morning session followed by staff development in the afternoon. Dr. Ellen Weidemeyer, the Director of Special Education in the Archdiocese, spoke here about curriculum modifications and accommodations in September, and Monday Nancy Caramanico, the Technology Director, demonstrated the ways teachers can communicate with one in their own schools and even around the world using blogs, Nings, Twitters, you name it. The more we can share best practices in teaching and learning, the more our students benefit.

OUR SECOND TRIMESTER HAS BEGUN! Next Tuesday, the 15th, your students will be bringing home their report cards so that you can see how much they progressed in the first trimester. We hope that you sit with them to talk about their strengths and challenges and help them take ownership of their learning and their personal growth and effort.

“TO ‘B’ OR NOT TO ‘B’, THAT WAS THE QUESTION and Monday our teachers decided that with the Children’s Bazaar Friday, having a letter day was unrealistic after all. Would you please adjust your pink December school calendars so that Monday, the 14th, is now a B Day, Tuesday, a C Day, etc. You’ve done it right if you end with Wednesday, the 23rd, being a D Day. It’s like making a change if it were to snow and we didn’t have school.

RIGHT TO THE CURB! This morning because of the torrential rain, we brought carline down to the curb. We had talked about doing that and today certainly was a time worth testing it. Between now and the close of school for the holidays, we will continue to pilot this method of morning carline. Your job is to drive right next to the curb to drop your students off, but not to drop off any students until you are by the curb. Also, no one can pull out and go around other cars for obvious safety reasons. People who park in Trainer Hall will still be walking along the stone wall by the Parish Center to reach the sidewalk but cars will be turning to go out again with enough distance between them just like up by the arrows. We’d like feedback from you about this so feel free to let us know your thoughts.

WOOD PARENTS PRESENT AND FUTURE State Representative Brendan Boyle will host a meeting with SEPTA officials on Thursday, December 10th, at 7 PM right here in Holy Family Hall. The meeting is regarding transportation to and from Archbishop Wood. Parents of students who currently attend or will be attending are encouraged to attend. Please feel free to contact Rep. Boyle’s Legislative Assistanct Mark Fabbi at 215-676-0300 or by email at mfabbi@pahouse.net with any questions.

PEOPLE AND EVENTS We were proud that 6th Grade girls Mary Kate Comas, Patrice Gantert, Katie Stack, and Amanda Jordan were selected by the Consortium of Women Scientists comprised of many professional groups to attend a mini-conference at Chestnut Hill College at the end of November. The goals were to increase girls’ interest in science and mathematics, to provide students with an opportunity to meet women working in non-traditional fields, and to foster an awareness of varied career opportunities for women.

For the second year in a row, the St. Christopher JV Boys basketball team has won the St. John of the Cross Turkey Shoot-out Tournament (Willow Grove, PA). The boys played and defeated Ancillia-Assumpta Academy, St. Timothy's and St. Aloysius-Sacred Heart (Perkasie, PA) en route to the championship on Sunday, November 29, 2009. The boys’ team is: Vince Luciano, Jim Crown, Mike Devlin, Sean Devine, Bill Eastburn, Jim Allendorf, Joe Meehan, Nick Newbert, Brendan Ruskowski, Frank Raddi, Sean Palmer and Chris Kuhar. We congratulate the boys on this accomplishment.

Our Swim Team remains undefeated having won against St. Matt’s this past Sunday. Next Sunday, the 13th, they will swim against Christ the King at noon at the Nepsca Pool.

CRITICAL THINKING 101 Congratulations to Brenna Farrell (7-22) whose correct entry was drawn for the $10 Gift Card of Choice Certificate. Like so many others, Brenna knew that the riddle was about a candle. For next week, “From 12 Midnight tonight beginning December 10th to 12 Midnight December 25 beginning Christmas, how many hours are there?”

December 2, 2009

“May the light of the Advent candles be a reminder that our time of waiting is here.”

H1N1 VACCINE ROUND TWO Yesterday we sent home cover letters, information sheets, and copies of your permission forms all stapled together to parents of students nine years old and younger who had received the first dose of the nasal spray vaccine here on November 12th. The recommended second dose will be administered at St. Timothy’s on Tuesday the 8th if those parents wish to have their children receive it. Please be sure that your children give you the envelope as you need all the paperwork if you choose to follow through with this dose.



ADVENT RECONCILIATION OPPORTUNITIES Tomorrow our students in Grades 3-4-5 will be going over to church for Reconciliation, and then next Thursday Grades 6-7-8 will be doing the same. Our priests have arranged this so that our students will definitely be able to receive this sacrament during this special season. We hope that you too will find an opportunity for yourselves for this special grace.



PICTURE DAY IS TOMORROW If your student missed out on our October day or you wanted different pictures, tomorrow is the day. We have been assured that all pictures will be available for Christmas giving.



H&S IS AS BUSY AS EVER Friday they will be hosting our annual St. Nicholas Sweets Day in anticipation of his feast day on Sunday, the 6th. Then next Friday, the Children’s Bazaar will actually be here. If you have donations, you can send them in up to this Friday. If you can help set up for the bazaar Thursday after school to early evening, you can call Michelle Wagner at 215-284-7404. If students in 6-7-8 Grades can help after school on Thursday, please have them give their names to their teachers letting them know that they will be doing this. It’s a good thing to do and a fun way to earn community service hours.



A FOUR DAY WEEKEND is in store for your students. Please remember that our faculty has a Staff Development/Faculty Meeting Day on Monday and that Tuesday is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day and a holiday.



DECEMBER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH Congratulations to the following students: PK- Mia Wildonger; Kindergarten- Allison Palmer and Patrick Smith; First- Sarah Campellone, Olivia Fennell, and Timothy Skalski; Second- Evan Wilson, Kyle Brakoniecki, and Brandon Casey; Third- Riley Regan and Colleen Dean; Fourth- Michael Galdo, John Schrenk, and Deirdre Regan; Fifth- Patrick Jurgelewicz and Miranda Candidi; Sixth- Erin McGovern, Sheridan McGinley, and Christopher Maffei; Seventh- Shannon Kelly, John Hall, and Ashley Hunter; Eighth- Marykate Vogelman, Tori Matthews, Joseph Melot, and Taylor Adair. Their pictures are on display in the main lobby.



PGW IS OFFERING HELP We have paperwork from PGW about grants for families who might need help with heating during the cold months ahead. It states that thousands of families don’t take advantage of it because they don’t know about it, don’t know how to apply, or don’t think that they qualify. We have fliers that we can send home from the office with details or you can visit www.pgworks.com/liheap to print an application form.



PEOPLE AND EVENTS If you’re at the Sixers’ game on December 7th, you’ll be seeing 7th Grader Nicole Serrano performing with her dance team during the half-time show. Way to go, Nicki!

When The Jungle Book is perfomed as the Junior Vogue Play at the Thomas Holme School from December 9th to 12th at 7 PM each evening, it will be enhanced with SCS students Anne Marie Rymal, Angela Serrano, Max Serrano, and Jessica Sucharski. We’re proud of you all!

Once again our SCS Swim Team won their meet when they swam against St. Jerome’s. This Sunday they will be swimming against St. Matt’s at noon again at the Nepsca Pool. Go team!



CRITICAL THINKING 101 Congratulations to Paige Sileo (2-4) who had her correct entry drawn. Thanksgiving was declared an official holiday by President Lincoln on October 3, 1863 to remind people to thank God for the blessings of fruitful lands. Paige will receive the $10 Gift Card of Choice certificate. For next week, in keeping with the season, “I am tall when I am young. I am short when I am old. When I live I glow, but from your breath I die. What am I?”