January 28-February 1

 

Decorate the school with student work

Pledge and Prayer SErvice outside or gym (Mon & Thurs)

Collection for our Military in Iraq (papers/flyers to follow)

 

28th Monday:  Service Day and Prayer Together in Gym at 7:50AM for "Kick-Off"

   

    10:15AM - Spelling Bee Assembly

    1:30PM - "Fanfare Dancing Through the Decades" Assembly in Gym

    K & 7th Grades to make sandwiches for St. Patrick's Center

 

29th Tuesday:  Student Appreciation Day - No Homework Night

 

    Breakfast for guests following Mass - need a count from Gr. 5-8:  All those adults who attend Mass are invited to join us for breakfast

    Pajama Day for Grades K, 1 and 2

    2:00PM -

    Grades 3 and 4 Assembly in Gym "Italian Presentation"

 

30th Wednesday:  Spirit Day - 100th Day of School - Green, White & Red Day

 

    Breakfast for guests following Mass - need a count from Gr. K-4:  All those adults who attend Mass are invited to join us for breakfast

    1:00PM - 8th Grade vs Faculty Volleyball Game

    Student Council special Pizza Lunch - Pizza Order Forms were distributed

 

31st Thursday:  Buddy Day

 

    Getting to Know You - Creating a Caring Environment

    Academic Olympics meet with team at 1:00PM

    Wear the same colored shirt or hat for team spirit

 

1st Friday:  All School Mass - First Friday

 

    Grades 3-8 Field Trip

    Grades K-2 teachers will select event for children

 

**Special Guest (Friends) Day is moved to April 10th, in the Spring, when the weather is more predictable.  However, we want to invite those who look forward to spending some time with the children.  If you are able to come, please join us for a bite in the morning on either the 29th or 30th depending on the grades that your child is in.

 

 

2008 Auction

 

November 15, 2008

St. Ambrose School Gym and Cafeteria

 

The Steering Committee is forming and is looking for more people to be a part of this very special event.  If you are interested in assisting with a committee, please contact the school office.

 

You can begin collecting items to auction.  Please bring them to the office.

Registration and Re-registration Has Begun
Two options for registration this year:

1. The Registration button on the Navigation Bar on Fast Direct
2. The "Yellow" Registration Form sent home with your children

Either way you choose, the $100 Registration check must accompany your registration. If you choose to register online, please send your check in an envelope marked "Registration." If you choose to use the form, just attach the check to it. The Registration button is for new and returning families; please note if you are registering a new child or a returning child. If new, you will be directed to fill out a form and that information will be e-mailed to school. If returning, you will be directed to login as a parent and continue the process there. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the school office.

Catholic Schools Week:  January 28 - February 1
Typically, Special Friends Day occurs on Friday and students invite grandparents or other special friends to attend the All-School Mass and then join them for breakfast and a visit to the school. This year, we have moved Special Friends Day to April 10 in the interest of the health and safety of our guests, hoping for better weather and fewer colds in the Spring. However, students may still invite special friends to join them for the Middle School or Primary Masses during Catholic Schools Week (Grades 5-8 on Tuesday, January 29, and K-4 on Wednesday, January 30). Following Mass, bagels, fruit, and beverages will be served in the cafeteria. Please inform the office of the number of guests attending on either day.

Third PTO Family Night:  Mardi Gras Dinner
Rose of the Hill (located on Edwards at Elizabeth)
February 5, 2008
$10 per person
Doors Open at 6:00 pm, Open Seating
Sit Down Dinner served at 6:30 pm  
Reservations limited to about 350 people  
No Homework or Athletic Practice Night

Music by Renditions

Get your RSVP in, only a few places remain

NCADA Classes
The National Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NCADA) will be teaching classes to all grade levels this year. Each class will be age appropriate and range from information about drugs and alcohol and making healthy choices to leadership, peers, and social issues. These classes are provided by grant money. The seventh grade's class called "Challenges and Choices" is January 10 for 7E and February 7 for 7G. It is a three-and-a-half hour program which helps students understand that attitudes, beliefs, peers, and media all play a role in decision-making. Other classes in January will be on the facts about alcohol and marijuana for the 8th grade (1/17 and 1/24). The 4th and 5th grades will begin their series of classes on "Respect and Bullying" in January as well. Classes for other grades will be held in February and March.

Act Now to Maintain Title V-A Funding
Funding for the 2007-2008 school year is set, but Title V-A will cease to exist unless Congress acts. The best thing to do is contact your federal legislative representatives, both House and Senate, and let them know how important Title V-A is to your students. In the past, these funds have been used to purchase the sound systems in most of the rooms and we are currently using Title V funds to purchase another sound system for another room. The funds have decreased considerably over the last couple of years and now the threat is that it will be completely gone. Private schools really depend on these monies for a variety of items.

Classroom Sound Systems Enhance Audio Learning
Proceeds from the Box Tops and similar collections, plus the Quilt Social, have helped to purchase these $1700 sound systems, but more funds are needed. If you, your company, or any organization you are affiliated with is looking for a contribution opportunity, please contact Sr. Carol. We need to equip four more rooms.

Box Tops
Continue to save your boxtops for the upcoming contest in February.

Campbell's Soup Labels
Mrs. Moses is a member of the Labels for Education Coordinator Advisory Board. Congratulations!

Technology Update
St. Ambrose students benefit from age-appropriate use of technology in the classroom. In Kindergarten through Second Grade, students are exposed to the internet via educational web sites projected in the classroom. Grades 3 through 5 attend Computer class in the lab where students learn keyboarding and the basics of Office software. Students in Grades 6 through 8 visit the Computer lab with their teachers and learn advanced Office skills applied to projects in specific subject areas. All students benefit from our subscription to United Streaming, a web site with curriculum-enhancing videos. The manipulatives and visuals engage and excite our students, regardless of their age.

Video Streaming
Check out the new video clips on the St. Ambrose web site. Click the St. Ambrose link here or atop the upper-left column on the Fast Direct home page. Or enter www.stambroseonthehill.com in your web browser.

Collection for the Homeless
St. Ambrose School has joined other Catholic schools in the Archdiocese in the Key Player Initiative to eliminate homelessness. This initiative wants to provide opportunities for self-sufficiency and dignity to those who are homeless or who are at risk of becoming homeless.
An update of the money collected by the school children for the Key Player Initiative for the homeless: September--$179.29, October--$207.76, November--$274.06. Students continue to collect for the homeless during December and January for this initiative to fund housing and programs for the homeless of St. Louis.
Submitted by Cathy Griner

Mrs. Scherer - The 5th grade is starting their chapter on Geometry.

Mrs. Kar - Her 8th grade class will participate in an assembly on alcohol awareness presented by NCADA (The National Council for Alcohol and Drug Awareness). The 8th grade language arts class will begin casting a movie and cutting a soundtrack as a culminating project for To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

Mr. Elmore - His 8th grade classes are watching an edited version of Glory to end their Civil War unit. His 7th grade is watching The Scarlet Pimpernel and creating a PowerPoint presentation relating to the movie.

Mrs. Durham - The 7th grade students are writing essays about different cultures, which relates to their literature unit on myths, legends, and folk tales from around the world. The 6th grade language arts class is beginning their study of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the C.S. Lewis classic. 

After we returned we watched a short film about Martin Luther King called "Martin’s Big Words.” It was for their age level and they really watched and listened. We had wonderful discussion afterwards and talked about how Martin and Jesus had the same message about love. It tied in beautifully with our Religion Chapter this week titled “Being Together.”

We also previewed and then read the booklet “We Fit” from the Reading series. They are bringing it home, so please try to have them read it to you. To end the day, they had a short free choice period and Art.

The bulk of the morning was spent doing the centers that they did not do last week. Now everyone has played Alphabet Bingo, made Snowman rulers etc. Next week we will have new activities.

After a short practice session on sound blending, we continued our study of Mexico as part of our challenge unit. After reviewing where Mexico was on the map, we learned what an encyclopedia was, and read some of it about Mexico and looked at the pictures from Mexico.

After lunch we had a double math lesson and got to use the pattern blocks in two different problem solving activities. The enjoyed both activities. Then we had free choice where many chose to play games or do creative “writing.” Their day ended with gym and prayer.
Submitted by Mrs. Patke

Meet the Mayor
On Saturday, January 19, while attending Mitchell Mense's birthday party, the 2nd grade boys had a surprise visitor at Epiphany bowling lanes - Mayor Slay. The Mayor had stopped by to watch his driver's son play a basketball game and he stopped in to see the boys. The birthday boy was given an official "Mayor" pen. The Mayor took a group picture with the boys - they were very excited! Copies of the pictures will be signed by the Mayor (thanks to the bowling lanes manager). Epiphany lanes has asked for a copy for them and the Mayor's office. It was an exciting day!

• Fast Food is not acceptable for lunch; please do not deliver to school for your children.
• The Handbook is a guide, but does not address all situations. When in doubt about a policy or procedure, please ask.
• If your child has a special medical need, please inform Linda in the School Office.
• Please don't park in the soccer lot during school hours if you are visiting school or chaperoning a field trip, as the cars block the use of the lot for recess.
• Birthday treats are distributed to students in their homerooms during break time. Please follow Handbook guidelines regarding acceptable treats and also refrain from delivering special lunches to students on these days.
• Party invitations may be distributed at school only if all students in the class are invited.

• April 7 - Confirmation - Grades 5 & 6 - more details to follow
• April 14 - First Holy Communion (this is the Monday after the Holy Communion Mass on Saturday, April 12) - Grades K & 1 - more details to follow
• May 23 - 8th Grade Graduation - Grade 7 organizes reception (in the cafeteria) to follow 6:30 pm graduation mass