St. Ambrose School Provides Dividends for Life
St. Ambrose School, 2009-2010
Weekly News Files
February 11, 2010
 
Calendar News Events and Activities Volunteer Opportunities In the Classroom Awards and Achievements Miscellaneous Reference

Links to This Week's New Articles
News Section
    Tuition Rates for 2010-2011
    Sharing our Catholic Schools Week Dividends
    Together We're Better
Events and Activities Section
    Mardi Gras Family Night Reminder
    Extended Care Session II
    Convent to Classrooms Auction 2010
    From Joey B's Restaurant
Volunteer Section
    Antidote for Your Spring Fever
Classroom Section
    Middle School News
Awards and Achievements Section
    Speech Meet Results
    

Calendar

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February 8 - 26 Box Tops Contest
Thursday, February 11 Faculty Meeting - Noon Dismissal
Mission Dress, Down Day
Monday, February 15 Presidents' Day
No School
February 16 - 23 Jump Rope for Heart/Hoops for Life
Tuesday, February 16 PTO Family Night: Mardi Gras Dinner
Rose of the Hill
Wednesday, February 17 Ash Wednesday
Thursday, February 18 Repertory Theatre, Grade 8
Grade 2 Parent Meeting in Church, 7:00 pm
Monday, February 22 TWB Week Begins
Purchase one card for March 8 Dress-Down Day
Thursday, February 25 Auction Meeting, 7:00 pm, cafeteria
Friday, February 26 Server Training (grades 5-8), 3:15 pm, Church
TWB Week and Box Tops Contest End
Wednesday, March 3 PTO Board Meeting, 7:00 pm
Thursday, March 4 3rd Grade Parent Coalition Meeting, 7:00 pm, cafeteria
Saturday, March 6 PTO Spring Fever Family Dance
7-11 pm, cafeteria
Thursday, March 11 Faculty Meeting - Noon Dismissal
Mission Day, Dress Down
Friday, March 12 End of Quarter 3
Sunday, March 14 Daylight Saving Time
Optional Summer Uniform
Monday, March 15 PTO Special Lunch: Rigazzi's Mostaccioli and Meatballs
Wednesday, March 16 School Board Meeting
Thursday, March 18 Student St. Joseph Altar
Friday, March 19 No School, Faculty Retreat Day
Sunday, March 21 Parish St. Joseph Altar


News

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Tuition Rates for 2010-2011
The Tuition Rates for the 2010-2011 School Year are posted on the front page of FastDirect. We appreciate the Finance Committee and Monsignor Bommarito working together to keep our tuition rate as low as possible.

Sharing our Catholic Schools Week Dividends
The money raised from the Mission Carnival will be going to the Catholic Day Care Center of East St. Louis, Illinois. They are in desperate need of several items and they do such great work with the families there. We really need to help them. Thank you for all of your support and thank you to the Community Service Learning Club for their leadership and teamwork in planning the carnival.

Together We're Better
These merchants are giving us a larger percentage from TWB certificates temporarily.
Please check out the full list on the TWB link on Fastdirect and send your order to the school office. Thanks!

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.

Ashley's mom * John M's great grandma * Abbey's dad * Gabby's cousin, Sofia, neighbor, and grandpa * Maria's uncle
John B's grandpa * Kaitlyn's uncle * Camryn's grandpa * Eli's Uncle Matt * Rosie's grandma and cousin, Maddie * Karac's dad * Sam's mom * Maddie's grandpa * Pro-life * Msgr. Bommarito * Fr. Bill * Sr. Carol * For the safety of all workers *
Those serving overseas * our grandparents * the sick * the homeless and those without heat * for all people in our communities to get along * the economy to improve * the people and helpers in Haiti * expectant mothers

Events and Activities

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Mardi Gras Family Night Reminder
Don't forget to send in your reservations for the third PTO Family Night on Tuesday, February 16, at Rose of the Hill. Celebrate Mardi Gras by enjoying a delicious dinner of Favazza's chicken and pasta, then join in dancing to the music provided by Pete Russo.

Extended Care Session II
Enrichment registrations have been going extremely well. Only two classes have a few openings.
Thursday
Movement/Music
3:30 - 4:30
Grades K - 2

Thursday
Soccer
3:30 - 4:30
Grades 4 - 8
If you would like to register for one of these classes, please come to Extended Care after 3:00 pm.

 Convent to Classrooms Auction 2010
The St. Ambrose Auction will take place on November 13, 2010, and Mr. Kim Tucci has once again agreed to be the auctioneer for the evening. The cost for the event is $75.00 per person. Contracts for gift donations are available in the school office and we are looking for underwriters for various expenses for the evening. More information will be forthcoming in the bulletin and school papers. If you have any questions or would like to be on a committee, please contact the school office at (314) 772-1437.  To become a sponsor, underwriter, or to place an ad in the book, please click on the link on Fast Direct and/or click here.

From Joey B's Restaurant
Last year was such a success and we thank you for continuing to visit and support us. We enjoy seeing many of you regularly now!! Once again we would like to give back by supporting your parish. Join us Sundays starting February 14 through March 28 and we will be happy to donate 10% of the sales back to St. Ambrose. (Bring in your bulletin or make sure to tell your server to add your receipt to St Ambrose.)

All the staff is looking forward to see St Ambrose Parishioners! Still offering our delicious Fried Chicken Dinner for only $8.99. Open at 11am.

Box Tops Contest #2
The Second Box Tops Contest takes place from February 8 through February 26. Send in those box tops to help us. If any parishioners have box tops that they would like to give to the school, please send them with a student or feel free to drop them by the office. We have been able to update the drinking fountains, update the shades in the classrooms that had them, and many other minor capital improvements with the money we raise through this program. Please collect them and turn them in when you can! We’d like to thank Angie Kaestner for her assistance in chairing this program.

February Faculty Meeting
The February faculty meeting will take place on Thursday, February 11. As always, school will be dismissed at noon on this day. Extended Care will be available.

Lent Begins February 17
Please be aware that the St. Ambrose cafeteria will serve meatless lunches on Ash Wednesday and every Friday in Lent to encourage the discipline of abstinence.

Looking Ahead
To honor St. Joseph on his feast day, March 18, St. Ambrose students will once again have an opportunity to participate in the custom of the St. Joseph's Altar.  Watch for additional information as the date approaches.

Pictures from Catholic Schools Week:

   

   

Volunteer Opportunities

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Antidote for Your Spring Fever
PTO is sponsoring a Spring Fever Family Dance on March 8, from 7 pm - 11 pm. The PTO is looking for help with set up, working the concession stand during the dance, and clean up. Please call or message Lisa DiPaolo (314-520-8882) if you can help out. Remember that this would go toward your 10 point parent participation requirement. More details to come soon.

Can You Spare Some Time Over Lunch?
We are in need of parent volunteers for lunch/recess, hours are 10:50 - 12:40. Please remember that you must have completed Protecting God's Children and the associated paperwork. Please contact Bernadette Mense via Fast Direct if you can help.
 

In the Classroom

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Middle School News

Awards and Achievements

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Speech Meet Results
Our speech team had a great day at St. Joe's in Manchester. We are very proud of them.
Congratulations to all of them!
Speech Team Committee

Miscellaneous

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From the Catholic School Office
A newly-produced, one-hour documentary on the history and future of Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, Mission to Educate: A Faithful Past, A Faith-Filled Future, will air on HEC-TV (Cable) at the following times:
 
Sundays in February, 1 p.m.
Mondays in February, 7 p.m.

HEC-TV is Channel 26 for Charter Cable customers and Channel 99 for AT & T U-Verse customers with HEC-TV option. When Mission To Educate is being aired on HEC-TV, it will be simultaneously shown online at hectv.org. The documentary will soon be available on the HEC-TV site and on iTunes U, available for downloads to iPods or iPhones. Go to hectv.org for more information. Click to view a promotional video.

SLU Counseling Service
Again we are very fortunate to have SLU graduate student counselors who will be doing their practicum work here at St. Ambrose. With parent consent, they will be meeting with individual students to counsel them in personal or social issues. We are blessed to be able to offer this service to families for the semester at no charge. Students can be referred by parents and/or teachers. Please let me know by email or phone if you feel that your child might benefit from this service. I will send the permission forms home for you to sign.
Lisa Horner, learning consultant

Yearbook Photos
Mrs. McQuay has set up the website for students, parents, and teachers to submit yearbook photos online directly to Jostens. The Jostens Photo Submission Website is images.jostens.com; the user id is 400005642 and the password is "onthehill."

St. Ambrose Nights at Mr. B's
Eat at Mr. B's on the first and third Thursday of the month and St. Ambrose receives 10% of your purchase. Be sure to mention "St. Ambrose Night" to your server.

Check Out These Websites
What if my favorite charity had a penny for every time I searched the Internet? Now it can! Search the web with www.goodsearch.com and money from their advertisers will go to your favorite charity without you spending a dime!

You can find St. Ambrose Catholic School (St. Louis, MO) listed in WHO DO YOU GOODSEARCH FOR? You can also view how much money has currently been raised.

Here are three keys to substantially increasing the money you earn:

1. Remind everyone to begin their holiday shopping at GoodShop.

2. Ask your local businesses to buy their office supplies on your behalf via GoodShop. All of the top stores including Staples, OfficeDepot and OfficeMax are on-board!

3. Ask all of your supporters to download the new GoodSearch/GoodShop Toolbar to ensure that every search and purchase count!

While you're surfing, be sure to also visit the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Website at www.ascjus.org.

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.

Instructions Regarding Campbell's Labels
Please send in the entire label, as the instructions for submitting labels have changed. We will have homeroom parents help with the cutting that is required. Pass the word to grandparents and neighbors who may save them too. And, don't forget to keep clipping boxtops and labels and saving them for upcoming contests!
 

Reference

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Extended Care Enrichment Program
Tuesday: February 16, 23; March 2, 9, 16, 23
•    Abra-Kid-Abra --Gym
Josh Routh
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Grades K – 3
•    Photography – Art Room
Grandma Judy Bozikis
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Grades 4 - 8

Wednesday: February 17, 24; March 3, 10, 17, 24
•    Karate
Robinson’s Karate
3:15 pm to 4 pm
Grades K-8
•    Cooking Class
Sr. Margaret Mary
3:30 pm to 4:45 pm
Grades 4-8

Thursday: February 18, 25; March 4, 11, 18, 25
•    Soccer Club “Hoc-Soc After School”
Tony Reynoso
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Grades 4-8
•    Music and Movement
Mimi Roach
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Grades K – 2

Science Enrichment
Young Scientist Program from Washington University

Click for more information on the Extended Care Enrichment Program.

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

St. Ambrose Leadership
Please reference the following lists to identify individuals participating in the promotion, advisory, and community building of St. Ambrose School. Click the links for more specific descriptions of each group.

Marketing Committee
Katie Brennan
JoAnn Buckley
Tim Curtain
Chris Felt
Sharon Gambaro
Debbie Hilderbrand
Jill Jovanovic
Maggie Nikoli
Sr. Carol Sansone
Karen Sinak

PTO Board
Lisa DiPaolo, President
Marsy Canino
Sarah Chavez
Sharon Gambaro
Tracy Hill
Michele Keller
Bernadette Mense
Ann Oliver
Peggy Pancella
Toni Paulus
Mary Ellen Stephens

School Board
Fr. Vince Bommarito, Pastor
Katie Brennan, Marketing
Joseph Colagiovanni, Vision
Derio Gambaro, Alumni
Rob Liddy, Finance
Mike Mense, President
Sr. Carol Sansone, Principal
Karen Sinak, Vice President
Jim Summers, Parent Liaison
Brian Ward, Technology
Wes Yates, Legal

PTO Special Lunch 
To thank the neighborhood restaurants for their support and to share their wonderful cuisine with our students, PTO invites them to provide lunch to our students. Each month features a different restaurant and selection. The cost is the same as last year, $4 for grades K-4, $5 for grades 5-8 and teachers/staff. Watch for the order form for these lunches at home and return to the office with your payment. Please note that Chris' will not be served on these days.

Hot Lunch Program Procedures
 Archdiocesan Mandate
All parents who wish to participate in any event (lunch duty, field trips, class parties, Breakfast with Santa, etc.) at school involving children MUST attend the Protecting God's Children Workshop. For information on times and locations of the workshops, please visit the archdiocesan website www.archstl.org and follow the link or consult the recent message to parents on Fast Direct.

Our Fabulous Faculty
Grade Teacher
K Maria Foster

Jennifer Smith
1 Mary Lynne Harris
2 Jennifer O'Toole
Margaret Rotter
3 Emily Elmore
Ann Grandstaff
4 Anne Henning
Sr. Margaret Mary Stoverink
5 Judy King
Kathy McIver
Brigid 301 Mary Scherer
Catherine 302 Kate Black
David 304 Debbie Hilderbrand
Thomas 303 Jen Ronzio
Vincent 305 Erin Schaeffer
Michael 306 Shanna Kar
Art JoAnn Dreas
Computer Debbie Hilderbrand
Learning Consultant, K-4 Michele Grellner
Learning Consultant, 5-8 Lisa Horner
Physical Education Beth Brickey
Italian, K-8 Annunciata Buzzai
Principal Sr. Carol Sansone
Office Hilma Moses
Office Linda Gambaro
Extended Care Bernadette Mense

Middle School homerooms are made up of our house teams. We think this will help promote relationships within the team and with their team moderator. Houses, moderators, and colors are:
Michael House: Mrs. Kar (red)
Brigid House: Mrs. Scherer (green)
David House: Mrs. Hilderbrand (orange)
Vincent House: Mrs. Schaeffer (yellow)
Catherine House: Mrs. Black (purple)
Thomas House: Mrs. Ronzio (blue)