Herald May 22 - 28, 2010

This Herald contains the following Information:

Events This Week

  • May 21 - 24: Linder's Flowers Fundraiser
  • Monday, May 24: Confessions, grade 8
  • Wednesday, May 26: Poetry after Mass, grade 7, Church
  • Thursday, May 27:  Grade 5 to Boca Chica
  • Friday, May 28: Track & Field Day

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Upcoming Events

  • May 31:  No school, Memorial Day
  • June 1:  PTO and Volunteer Appreciation Mass, 8:00 am
  • June 2:  8th Grade Graduation during 8:00 am Mass followed by Graduation Celebration and Breakfast in Kattar Hall
  • June 3:  Graduates go to Valley Fair
  • June 4:  Last day of school, dismissal at 11:30 am
  • June 8:  School Supply Lists for 2010-2011 available on-line
  • June 19, 20, and 21: Report Cards available

 

Track and Field Day!!

Our ever-loved and ever-popular favorite student day, Track and Field, is this Friday!!  Thank you to all the people who have volunteered to help.  We are still looking for individuals to help out with child care in the afternoon.  Please let Elizabeth Hessian know if you are able to help.  Remember that in order to volunteer for this event, you must have completed VIRTUS training and had a background check done.
 
Important Information:
  • Due to construction on the park that we traditionally use for Track and Field, we have to use Keystone Park this year.  Keystone Park is located just one block North of HFA on Alabama - it's the same park that students occasionally have P.E. at and our soccer team practices at.
  • Out of uniform day – students should arrive at school dressed in appropriate modest attire according to the weather.  No tank tops please and girl's shorts should be as long as the end of their fingertips
  • All students must wear gym shoes to participate – no flip flops, sandals, etc.
  • Items to bring: blanket or towel to sit on; disposable bag lunch (no lunch boxes); sunscreen; water bottle; backpack to store award ribbons!
  • Snacks and drinks will be provided but students may bring extra snacks or beverages if they wish
  • Kindergartners and First Graders will participate in the morning, eat lunch at the park and then return to HFA for the remainder of the day.  No hot lunch service.
  • All students will return to HFA for car pool at the regular time of the school day. 
  • Pray for great weather - sunny with a few wispy clouds, 78 degrees, slight breeze....
 
State of the School Review
We had a wonderful State of the School meeting last week. Thank you to everyone who attended!  Here is a quick over-review:
  • Registration for 2010-11: 229 students are registered for next year.  We still have students shadowing and families who are interested in our school so the numbers may change but our enrollment as of 5/21 is:  Pre K - 18 students; Kindergarten - 24; First Grade - 24; Second Grade - 25; Third Grade - 25; Fourth Grade - 27; Fifth Grade - 25; Sixth Grade - 25; Seventh Grade - 21; Eighth Grade - 15.  All the homeroom teachers are returning next year!!
  • Budget: We are pleased to tell you that we came in under our anticipated budget thanks to the hard work of teachers and administration. 
  • Fund Raising Review:  Marathon raised $31,000 this year with 75% student participation.  Next year we hope to do much better and are requesting 100% participation from our students and staff.  Mrs. Coone expressed the importance of total student participation since this is the ONLY large fundraiser held each year.  Clip and Save with Box top and Kemps raised over $1500; Target credit card $1400; Linder's Flower Sale $447 in 2009; REMEMBER the Linder's flower sale is this weekend!!  We are researching the possibility of hiring a professional grant writer.  Contact Mrs. Coone if you know of someone.
  • Athletic Events: What a blessing our Athletic Director, Lisa Counts, is.  She reported that this year we had three Co-Ed Soccer teams; two Girls' Volleyball teams; two Boys' Basketball teams; three Girls' Basketball teams; two Floor Hockey teams; and one Girls' Softball team.  Even though winning is not our goal, our students added 6 new achievement trophies to our collection - absolutely amazing!!!  Student Sports Participation was: Fall - 75 students; Winter - 50 students; and Spring 15 students
  • Protecting Children and Youth Initiative (PCYI): 
    • Required Archdiocesan curriculum and mandate of Archbishop Nienstedt
    • Only 20% of our students opted out of the program this year
    • Mrs. Coone taught grades K - 5, Mr. Biese taught grades 6-8
    • The curriculum used is Netsmartz and it is the Alternative PCYI Curriculum allowed by the Archdiocese; Safe Touch Curriculum is not used in any fashion or way; Netsmartz is used to the degree that it does not interfere with the parent's right and responsibility to be their child's teacher 
    • Mrs. Coone reported her concern that in teaching the curriculum, she discovered that students in grades K - 5 may  need better Internet and personal safety knowledge and encouraged parents to review safety rules with their children
    • The PTO committed to organizing parent education programs next fall
  • SchoolSpeak: New Student Information System (SIS) to be unveiled in August which will replace our currently used Powerschool program.  It will be a one stop, secure place to get ALL your HFA information on all of your students and school needs with one family password. Feel free to visit the demo at http://www.schoolspeak.com/CompanyV3/FlashDemo.aspx
  • 2010-11 Parent Communication: Most communication over the summer and for the start of the new school year will be via e-mail and the Internet.  All forms for the 2010-11 school year will be available electronically to save the school postage and copying costs.   
  • Report cards for K - 8: Report Cards and Standardized Test scores (grades 3 - 8) will be available after June 18. To help save on postage, report cards can be picked up from Mrs. Zangel in the back of church after all the Masses the weekend of June 19 and 20 and on Monday, June 21 at HFA during Catholic Vacation Bible School. All outstanding fines, fees and negative lunch balances must be paid before receiving report cards.  Student on-line grades will not be available for viewing after June 4 due to the SIS transfer.
  • A huge thank you was given to our PTO for such an outstanding school year.  The PTO's work, dedication and service to our school makes it a better, stronger, more welcoming, and joyful school for everyone involved.  Thank you especially to Lara Rampetsreiter, Anita Whims, Margaret Grgas, Jackie Schroeder and Jennifer Tomaschko who all served on the 2009 - 10 PTO Board!!  
    • Remember that all parents are members of the PTO and all are encouraged to get involved by volunteering - everyone is needed! 
    • A Mass will be said in thanksgiving for the 2009-10 PTO Board and all of you who have volunteered your time and talent to help make HFA great!!  We couldn't run a school without you.  
      • Incoming 2010 - 11 HFA PTO: 
        • President: Anita Whims
        • Vice President: Margaret Grgas
        • Secretary: Camille Miller
        • Treasurer: Rochelle Horinek
        • Advisor: Lara Rampetsreiter
      • Incoming 2010 - 11 HFA Officers:
        • Veteran's Day: Carrie Havlicek
        • Uniform Sale: Margaret Grgas
        • Marathon: Robin Keller
        • Christmas Luncheon: Teresa McCarthy
        • Catholic School's week: Nancy Wooden
        • Clip and Save Fundraising: Elizabeth Hessian
        • New Family Hospitality: Kara Miller
        • Back to School Get Together: Camille Miller & Andrea Dick
        • Teacher Appreciation: Rochelle Horinek
        • Donut Sunday Coordinators: 9:00 am "needed" ; 11:00 am Karen Mathias


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Educational Outfitters Private Uniform Sale

Educational Outfitters will be holding a private uniform sale for HFA families on Wednesday, June 23 from 8:30 - 11:00 am at their St. Louis Park location just minutes from school.  Enjoy complimentary refreshments on that day while you browse for all your uniform needs.  There is a 10% discount on all purchases during the month of June.  Other key things to know about this store:
  • Embroidery is available on site.  They can also embroider the logo on any shirts you may already own.
  • 3% of all purchases from Educational Outfitters will go back to HFA at the end of each year.  This includes any uniform purchases you make for schools that your other children may attend.  Feel free to purchase those uniforms on June 23 as well.
 

2010 - 11 School Logo Policy

Effective September 1, 2010 (the start of next school year), the new school logo is required on all boys' white oxfords, grades 6 - 8 girls' white oxfords, and all sweaters and vests (boys and girls).  Any pieces worn with the old logo will be considered out of uniform.  The new logo on the uniforms is universal for both boys and girls.  It is BLACK with a gold cross.  There is no red in the logo.  Make sure that the company you are ordering from orders the correct one.  Because there were some mistakes last year with colors, shirts with the new red logo purchased within the past two years will be allowed. 

 

Donut Sunday Coordinator Needed

If you enjoy the Sundays that our HFA students help serve donuts and coffee after Mass, please consider helping.  We are looking for someone to coordinate service for the 9:00 Mass.  This includes getting everything set up before Mass and overseeing the students as they serve after Mass.  Please contact Rochelle Horinek if you have questions about this opportunity.
 

Crusader News

Congratulations to the Girls' Cub Softball Team who took FIRST PLACE in the MCYO Softball Tournament.  They beat St. Helena to advance to the first place round after waiting out the thunder and rain.  The sky opened, the sun shone and the girls played hard to win a well fought game against Holy Name for THE CHAMPIONSHIP!!    Some of the small but mighty fourth graders knocked the ball way in the out field, there were home runs, several triples and doubles and double plays. It was so exciting and we are very proud of each and every one of them for playing a very fine season!  Goooooo Crusaders!!!!!!!!! 
 

Family Camp Information ~ Room still available!!   
Reservations are now open for Holy Family parish's Family Camp at Camp Lebanon in Upsala, MN.  The flyer and registration form are attached.  This camp offers plenty of activities, meals and a variety of lodging options at a reasonable price.  Due to insurance reasons, Family Camp is open to Holy Family parishioners only.  
 

The Herald is published Fridays when school is in session. If you would like information about your group or event published in it, please email our Herald editor, Theresa Zangel at tzangel@hfamn.org.  All submissions are due Friday by 8:30 am.