Teacher InService and Parent Presentation
The faculty of St. Ambrose, along with faculties from seven other schools, will be attending a workshop at the Cardinal Rigali Center from 8:45 am -2:30 pm. The presenter is David Walsh, Ph.D. His
presentation to the teachers, “Say Yes to No,” will cover the impact of media on children’s health and development. This workshop will be similar to the parent seminar slated for that same evening from
7:00 - 9:00 p, at the Rigali Center.

St. Ambrose was a recipient of the St. Louis Mental Health Board Youth Service and Impact Mini Grant, which was used to create the Community Service Learning Club. We have been invited to attend the Student Showcase of Community Service Projects. Each school that received this grant of $500 will have the opportunity to showcase their projects from last year. John S., a current 8th grade student, has been chosen to present St. Ambrose’s projects. The projects will be on display for the evening portion of the “Saying Yes to No” seminar. Thank you to everyone who assisted with the endeavors last year and we wish the Club well in their projects for this year.

Grade 6 Coalition Meeting for Parents
This presentation, given by West County Psychological Associates, will give parents a realistic view of the issues that confront children at this age and provide suggestions as to how to address these issues. Pre-teens and young adolescents need relationships with other people their age. If they seem to be confiding more in friends than in their parents, this is natural to this stage of development - it is part and parcel of their separating from the parent and building independence. Parents are not their child’s friend. In a few years, after the throes of adolescence are past, the primacy of the family will return in their minds.

Quest
As a continuation of their summer seminar, Mrs. Anne Henning and Mrs. Ann Grandstaff will attend the follow-up session, STOM, on October 2. This session invites all the summer teachers to come together to discuss their implementation of the QUEST seminar in their science classes. QUEST introduced a Universal Design Learning approach to teaching for all children, including those with disabilities, through Science. In this type of teaching, continuous assessment and discovery is used as opposed to the usual direct instruction and handouts. All of the students in grade 3 and 4 are benefiting from both teachers attending these conferences. Mrs. Henning and Mrs. Grandstaff are looking forward to meeting with their summer friends to discuss what practices have been successful and those that have been challenging. We wish them luck and a safe trip to Jefferson City for this conference.

Office Notes

• Please let Linda know if your child has any health problems or allergies, for their safety. One St. Ambrose student has a dog allergy, so we ask that parents not bring dogs to school when picking up the children.
• Please submit payment for or return any unsold Entertainment Books to the School Office. Additional books are available for $30.

La Festa Raffle Tickets
This year, students brought home four books of raffle tickets instead of two. The increased number of books is needed to offset the costs of the eight new air conditioners purchased by Msgr. Bommarito and installed in classrooms this summer, as well as the subsequent increased electric bills.

An incentive is being provided this year for highest ticket sales, broken down into three groups by grade: K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. One student from each group with the highest number of tickets sold will receive a $50 TWB gift certificate of their choice. Please ensure the student's name is on the envelope when turning them back in to receive credit for tickets sold.

THE DEADLINE FOR TURNING IN SOLD TICKETS IS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1. If you do not sell all four books of tickets, it's important that you return the tickets so others can try to sell them. If you need additional tickets, please contact Jen Cissi or the rectory. As always, thank you so much for your support!

Extended Care Enrichment Program Schedule
Click for more information on the Extended Care Enrichment Program.

Every Tuesday, October 6 to December 8 (Plus, an additional practice on December 9.)
    Family Musical Theatre: Singing, movement, skills of the theatre
        3:45 pm to 5:15 pm
            Grades 4 – 8
                A Christmas Carol to be held on December 10, 2009
Set production and stage crew are part of the needs for this production.
 
Every Tuesday, October 6 to December 8
    Beginning Dance by Christina Stemmler
        3:30 pm to 4:15 pm
            Grades K-2
    Intermediate Dance by Christina Stemmler
        4:30 pm to 5:15 pm
            Grades 3-8
 
Every Wednesday, October 7 to November 18        
    Karate by Robinson’s Karate
        3:15 pm to 4 pm
            Grades K-8
 
Every Wednesday, October 7 to November 18        
    Cooking Class by Sr. Margaret Mary
        3:30 pm to 4:45 pm
            Grades 4-8
 
Thursday, October 1, 15, 29, November 5, 19, and December 3 (every other week for 6 sessions)
    Chess by Mrs. Haynie and Mrs. Oliver
        3:30 pm to 4:15 pm
            Grades K-8

Special Intentions
Contact Debbie Hilderbrand if you wish to include any prayer intention in the newsletter.