St.
Ambrose School, 2009-2010
Weekly
News Files
February 25, 2010
Thank you to those
who have returned their re-registration information. For those who
have not, please do so as soon as possible. We have new registrations
coming in and we would like to try to have "GOOD" basic numbers in order to
plan for our budget next year.
If you know of
anyone who may be interested in St. Ambrose have them give Debbie
Hilderbrand or the school office a call. We are all in Marketing
together. You don't have to be on the Marketing Committee to help
promote our school, parish, and community. Reach out to people in
pre-schools, other parishes that may be closing or near closing, those
attending Public schools now, etc. You never know where that someone
who just needs a nudge our way can be. Thank you in advance for your
help!
Links to This Week's New Articles
News Section
Calendar Items
Help Complete the Registration Process
The Catholic Education Office Is on the Move!
Events and Activities
Section
Enrichment Update
In the
Classroom Section
Middle School News
| 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 |
| Monday, March 8 |
TWB Dress-Down Day for those who purchased a card during TWB Week |
| Thursday, March 11 |
Advancement Conference
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 |
Calendar Items
Anyone scheduling activities in the cafeteria for the months of
March through May is reminded to check with Dolly in the rectory to
ensure availability.
Help Complete the Registration Process
Re-registration of our students continues, including siblings new to
St. Ambrose. Please check book bags and return your packets with the
registration fee. Thank you for your cooperation with this process.
The Catholic Education Office Is on the Move!
Members of the Catholic Education Office will be moving from the
Cardinal Rigali Center at 20 Archbishop May Drive in Shrewsbury to the
Catholic Center at 4445 Lindell Boulevard in St. Louis City. This move
will take place over the next several months. If you plan to visit a
member of the Catholic Education Office, please call first to make sure
you know which location to visit. (Office phone numbers and e-mails
will remain the same.) Thank you for your patience during this process.
NOTE: The School Personnel Office will be closed to move on Wednesday,
February 24. The School Personnel Office will re-open on Thursday,
February 25, at their new location on 4445 Lindell Boulevard, St.
Louis, MO 63108.
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.
|
 Events
and Activities |
Top |
Enrichment Update
Please note that a third Enrichment Session will be offered in
mid-April, to include a Young Scientists program for grades 3 through 5.
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.
Please note the link to the Sponsorship and Catalog Ad Contract on the front page of Fast Direct.
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.
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.
|
 Volunteer
Opportunities |
Top |
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 |
Top |
For 6th Science-
They will be creating a portfolio-type of assessment for the Periodic Talble:
includes a crossword puzzle with vocabulary, an report on an element of their
choice, a fact windsock on their element, and a model of their element's atoms.
The 8th grade saw a moving performance of "The Diary of Anne Frank." It was
wonderful to be able to compare our reading to the performance. Even before the
play was over, they were thinking about the differences. Kennedy P. noted, "They
skipped the whole first scene!"
Other comments from the 8th graders:
"The actors were excellent!" Becky C.
"It was interesting to see the play come alive" Chandler A.
"It was fantabulous!" Addyson M.
They took notes when they got back, and are writing compare/contrast essays.
February Housewide Meeting was Monday, Feb 22nd. Students played "Guess Who?"
from clues given about the person's identity. "It was hard!" Albano T. "It was
my favorite Housewide so far!" said Becky O. David house dominated the
competition! It was a fun afternoon.
House Points earned for the Houseside game were:
David House - 145 pts,
Michael House - 100 pts, Brigid House - 90 points,
Vincent House - 65 points,
Catherin House - 40 points, and
Thomas House - 40 points. As of this
writing, David House is in the lead for the month of February and in the lead
for the year. Everyone turned in their house sheets today and next week we
will indicate the winners for February and the standing for the year.
7th grade students are beginning to read "The Outsiders" in Literature class.
6th grade Religion is just about complete with their Family Life Book and
will go back to the regular curriculum in their Religion Books for 4th quarter.
We are discussing how a new baby affects a family, the sanctity of marriage, and
then lastly moving into stewardship, and giving to the church.
|
Awards
and Achievements |
Top |
|
 Miscellaneous |
Top |
Together We're Better
These merchants are giving us a larger percentage from TWB certificates temporarily.
- Dierbergs 5%
- American Eagle 10%
- Lands End 17%
- Fashion Bug 8%
Please check out the full list on the TWB link on Fastdirect and send your order to the school office. Thanks!
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.
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!
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 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.
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
- Lunch
cards are $15.00 for 5 lunches.
- Every
child buying lunch must have a lunch card before getting in line. Money
will not be accepted in the lunch line. Please make checks payable to
Chris' Pancake & Dining. Special envelopes are
available in the office.
- Students
who forget their lunch will be given cereal and milk that will cost
1.00. Parents will be notified through Fast Direct.
- Snacks
such as pizza, nachos, cereal will be available to buy for students in
grades 3-8.
- A
lunch count is essential in the morning, so there is no food waste and
the students who come through last have a proper lunch. We will not
prepare for extra lunches this year.
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)
Calendar
News
Reference