School Playground Raffle
All proceeds go toward construction of a New Playground!
1st Prize - Cardinal Luxury Suite
2nd Prize - $1,000
Tickets: $25 each, or 5 for $100

Winner will be announced on May 20th at the School Picnic, but need not be present.

Video Streaming Update

Fill Your Easter Baskets with TWB
On hand in the School Office, we have the following gift cards: AMC Theatres, Applebees, Bath & Body Works, Build A Bear, Borders, Boston Market, Cracker Barrel, Crate & Barrel Shop, Cabelo's, Old Navy, Home Depot, J.C.Penney, KrispyKreme, Noodles, Pottery Barn, Red Robin, Sally Beauty Supply, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Macaroni Grill, The Cheesecake Factory, Shell Gas, Diergergs, Save A Lot, Shop N Save.

Recycle!
Our school recycled 10 tons of paper in the last two months, thanks to all of you. We are very close to our goal of 35 tons and winning a prize in the Paper Recycling contest! Please remember to recycle your newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and school papers everyday. After we win $1,000, we will contribute our prize to the playground fund. So please recycle and bring the paper to our school bins on Hereford, across from the Soccer Lot. We need nine tons by March 31. With everybody’s help we can reach our goal. Thank you.

Safe Environment (Safe Touch) Curriculum
The Archdiocesan Child Safety Committee has developed a school based-curriculum for grades K-8 that contains practical, helpful information to help children protect themselves from dangers that exist today. The goal is to equip our students with the skills necessary for them to participate in their own personal physical safety. The objective of this curriculum, entitled "Safe Touch," is to teach our children self-protection skills. Children will learn body safety rules in an age-appropriate and non-threatening manner. This curriculum will be taught by Lisa Horner, learning consultant, who is a trained lead teacher. It will consist of one class period.

The "Safe Touch" curriculum approaches safety issues in a respectful manner, connecting our Catholic values with information to keep our children safe. Please do not hesitate to contact Sr. Carol or Mrs. Horner if you have any questions or concerns regarding this important piece of your child's education. Feel free to look over the curriculum plan presented to your child at any time during the school day. It will be available in the penthouse, or you can call Mrs. Horner to arrange a time. If for whatever reason you would prefer your child not to hear this presentation at school, you have the option of opting him or her from the program. Simply contact Sr. Carol or Mrs. Horner.

Children's Safety in Using the Internet 
These tips were provided by US Attorney, Catharine Hanaway, at a lecture she gave recently.

1. Allow no computers in bedrooms. Keep you computer in a family room or public area of your house so you can monitor the sites your child is going to or the pictures they are viewing.
2. Take your web cam off or cover the lens with tape or a sticker. Hackers have figured out how to turn these on remotely.
3. Teach your child not to talk to strangers whether it be on-line or in person. Most kids understand the dangers of talking to strangers in person, be sure they also know not to talk to strangers on-line.
4. Buy screen shot software at a local office store that will show you page views updated every 15 seconds. This will allow you to know a predator is not contacting your child and will help you get their myspace or facebook log on info.
5. Either don't let your child have a presence on myspace or facebook or require that you be one of their friends so you can view their page's activity.
6. Go to the website http://inobtr.org/Intro.aspx to learn more on how to protect the children you care about.

Archdiocesan Tuition Grant Applications for 2008 - 2009 are available at the rectory OR go online at www.factstuitionaid.com.

A Couple of Changes to Note

• Mrs. Kar is expecting a baby, due the first week in April. We wish her a healthy delivery and recovery. Mrs. Mandy Longland will be substituting until Mrs. Kar returns in August. Mrs. Gambaro is taking a temporary leave of absence to shift into "grandma mode" through the end of the school year. She will be returning in the summer and will continue to be available from home for questions, particularly on Parent Participation and Protecting God's Children compliance. Feel free to contact her via Fast Direct or by phone. We all know she'll look forward to talking with adults once in a while!
• Two snow days were built into the schedule, but having taken three this year, we need to arrange a make-up day. Consequently, April 25 and 28--originally scheduled as days off--will be regular school days, as now noted in the Calendar.

Pack 212 Annual Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast
Sunday, March 16th, 2008
8 am to 12 noon
St. Ambrose Cafeteria
5110 Wilson Ave.
Adults: $5.00 in advance, $6.00 at the door
Children 10 and Under: $4.00 in advance, $5.00 at the door
Pancakes, Sausage, Fruit, Milk, Juice, and Coffee
See any Cub Scout for tickets.

Upcoming Band Events                                                

• Spring Concert in April (date TBD)
• Band Tour in early May (date TBD)
• Marching in a Parade on Memorial Day (does not apply to beginners)