Links to This Week's New Articles
News Section
    Please Help Ensure Safety at Dismissal Time
    Tuition Grant Applications Now Available
    Lunch Payment Reminder
Events and Activities Section
    Debut Opera Performance
    Science Night a Hit
    Celebrate Catholic Schools
In the Classroom Section

    Third Grade

    Fourth Grade

    Middle School

Awards and Achievements Section

    Debut Opera Performance

    Art News

Please Help Ensure Safety at Dismissal Time
Students need to be dismissed at 3:00 pm or within two minutes of the dismissal bell. I have asked all teachers to follow this rule closely. Late dismissals are causing safety problems in the parking lot with some drivers wanting to leave and others having to wait. Please do not leave the soccer or Church/School parking lots until all children are safely in their car. If you choose to park in one of the lots, please know that you will have about a 10 to 15 minute wait to be dismissed. Perhaps the slight inconvenience is the difference between our children's safety and an accident. This is not an option.
Thank you for your cooperation,
Sr. Carol

Tuition Grant Applications Now Available
Please be advised that the FACTS Tuition Grant Applications through the Archdiocese of St. Louis for the 2010-11 school year are now available. Two methods are available for filing: completing the paper application OR filing online. The website is www.factstuitionaid.com. The deadline to file is APRIL 1, 2010. You can pick up an application Monday through Friday from the Rectory or from Msgr. Bommarito after one of the weekend masses. If you are experiencing financial hardship, please complete this application.
Thank you,
Msgr. Bommarito
Donna Bosch

Lunch Payment Reminder
Chris Saracino has requested that all checks for school lunches be made payable to Chris' Pancake & Dining. It would also be helpful if your check would be placed in an envelope with your child's name, grade, and homeroom on it.  There are special envelopes for Chris' in the office.

Marketing Committee
The Marketing Committee is active with Open House and other plans to promote St. Ambrose School. Watch for our advertisement in the March issue of St. Louis Magazine.

Sweat Pants for Cold Days
Blue sweat pants are available for $15 in the school office or at Maestro's on Sublette. Students will be allowed to wear the blue sweatpants to school as a uniform in January and February. Last year's green sweat pants are also on sale for $5.

Special Intentions
Contact Debbie Hilderbrand if you wish to include any prayer intention in the newsletter. We are a prayerful community and wish to provide this avenue of support for any special needs.
We ask your prayers now for the people of Haiti and for all to respect life from conception to a natural death.

Where:  Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park
When:  Wednesday, February 3, 2010, 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Cost:  $6.00 (per person) – payable at rink (Steinberg accepts cash only, but an ATM machine is on the premises.)
      Skating, Rental, and Hot Chocolate

"Light Up the Night" During Catholic Schools Week
Various activities are being planned for the children at school for Catholic Schools Week, January 31 through February 6. Families and parishioners are invited to show their support for Catholic Schools by lighting candles outdoors from 5:00 - 9:00 pm each evening during the week. Join in purchasing vigil candles that burn for 72 hours and placing them on your sidewalk, porch, or window (in the event of rain). These will be sold, two for $5, beginning January 19 in the School Office and in Church the weekend of January 23 and 24. Or, print the Candle form from the front page of Fast Direct and send it to school.

Costco Wholesale and the Archdiocese of St. Louis Celebrate Catholic Schools Week
Catholic school families are invited to an Open House at the 301 Highland Boulevard location (corner of Manchester and Highway 141) on Wednesday, February 3, from 4:00 - 8:00 pm. Non-members may shop for merchandise, purchase new memberships with special incentives, and are eligible for door prizes. Print the Costco flyer on the front page of Fast Direct, as this is needed to sign in.

Honors and Clelian Award Mass
The Second Quarter Honors and Clelian Award Mass will take place on Friday January 22, 2010 at the 8:00 am Mass. Students in grades 1-8 are eligible for the Clelian Award and students in grades 4-8 are eligible for academic honors. All are welcome to attend this Mass. This children enjoy seeing parishioners and family members at this Mass. Please plan to attend.
One note: The children sit in the center of Church. Children are allowed to sit with their parents/grandparents/special guest for the Mass. Friends/family members are asked to sit to the sides to the church.

Tuition Agreement
A “tuition agreement” will be given to parents whose children presently attend Epiphany School or any school that is closing. Parents who choose St. Ambrose School for their children for the 2010-2011 academic year will pay the tuition amount set for St. Ambrose School parishioners. Please call the main school office 772-1437 with any questions.

Re-registration/Registration
Although it is only January, it is time to consider re-registration for St. Ambrose for the 2010-2011 school year. Re-registration packets will be coming soon. When you receive it, we ask that you return it as quickly as you can.  This will assist us in preparing for registration of incoming students in February. We need to know the number of children returning to school before we can accept new students who wish to attend St. Ambrose. Your prompt attention to this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Open House
St. Ambrose, along with all city Catholic elementary schools, will be hosting an Open House on January 31, 2010, from 12:00 noon-2:00 pm. We are encouraging all current families to bring in at least one new family to see our school and offerings. If a current family refers a new family to Open House, the current family’s name will be placed in a raffle to win a $50 Gift Card from TWB. One name will be drawn drawn for every 20 families with a limit of four $50 gift cards to be won. Be sure to have the family you send to Open House fill out a card listing your name.

Extended Care Session II
The program for the second semester will begin the week of February 8. Currently, classes in cooking, karate, and photography are confirmed with the possibility for a fine arts and soccer class as well.

Convent to Classrooms Auction 2010
The St. Ambrose Auction for 2010 will be held on November 13, 2010. The theme of the 2010 auction is “Convent to Classrooms.” The proceeds will be used to offset the costs of converting the convent space to classrooms. The Apostles of the Sacred Heart, still committed to St. Ambrose as a mission, have moved out of the St. Ambrose School building, and are now residing in a home near the Sacred Heart Villa. The move was essential for the updating and extra space needed by our students and learning environments. Since the auction date is 11/13, the school office will be encouraging donations on the 11th and 13th of each month. We are accepting items now. Donation forms are in the office. Just fill out the donation contract and attach it to your gift. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Trivia Night

Looking for some parent participation points?  Trivia Night can help you out.  It's a fun night whether you play or work.  We are looking for workers.  If you are interested, please contact Steve and/or Michelle Feltz.  Middle School students are welcome to help as well.  A sign up sheet will be in Mrs. Black's room.

Third Grade:

Friday was Mrs. Elmore's last day as she awaits the arrival of baby Cece.  We wish the Elmore's all the best in this most precious time of their lives.  We welcome Mrs. Judy Varias as she assumes the third grade teacher position until Mrs. Elmore's return. 

The third grade have completed their "Ice Castles" and they are on display in the 1st floor hall.  They look great.  As some of the third graders stated about this assignment, "It was fun.", "I liked eating the sugar cubes while I was making the castle.", "It was hard, but I had fun with it too."

Fourth Grade:

The fourth grade have completed their "Maze" projects and they are on display in the 1st floor hall.  They look great and are very unique.  Some of the fourth graders had this to say about their projects:  "I liked it.", "I liked eating the candy.", "It was fun.", "It was hard."

Middle School:

Sixth Grade Religion:  The students are working on a "Family Tree" project.  They are required to talk with their families to find out information about their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.  The finished projects will be on display in the 3rd floor hall during Catholic Schools Week.

Seventh Grade:  The students have completed their catapults and castles projects for Social Studies.  These will e on display in the 3rd floor hall during Catholic Schools Week.

                            The students are working on "Saint" projects for Religion.  They are choosing a saint whose name will be used as their Confirmation name and writing reports about them.  They will then place their information on poster board and these projects will be displayed in the 3rd floor hall during Catholic Schools Week.

ART NEWS!

Congratulations to the following students whose work was selected for entry into the annual "Picture the Music" competition, sponsored by the St. Louis Symphony Volunteer Association:

Nina M., grade 6; Ronald B., grade 5; Claudia C., grade 4; Carolyn S., grade 3; Daniel E., grade 2; Alayna H., grade 1; and Grade B., kindergarten.

We wish them all good luck, as we have had many winners from St. Ambrose School over the years.

Congratulations to these students whose work was selected to represent St. Ambrose School at the annual Archdiocesan Student Art Exhibit, January 24-30, 2010 at Crestwood Mall:

Eli H., grade 5; Marissa S., grade 7, Jaime D., grade 7; Victoria G., grade 7; Dominic K., grade 3; Christina G., grade 2; Charles S., grade 1; and Joseph S., kindergarten.

Well done!

Recycle Your Ink Jet Cartridges, Paper, and Aluminum Cans
This free program generates money for St. Ambrose and helps protect the environment. Simply drop the cartridges off in the cafeteria and the paper and cans in the bins on Hereford.