St. Ambrose School, 2009-2010
Weekly News Files
November 19, 2009
 

To our families and parishioners for all the blessings that we have received, we offer

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Lord, so often times, as any other day
When we sit down to our meal and pray
We hurry along and make fast the blessing
Thanks, amen. Now please pass the dressing
We're slaves to the olfactory overload
We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold
But Lord, I'd like to take a few minute more
To really give thanks to what I'm thankful for
For my family, my health, a nice soft bed
My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head
I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those
Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know
Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure
Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure
That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place
And I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace
So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You've provided
And bless each and every person invited
Amen!
--Scott Wesemann
 

Breakfast with Santa
Sunday, December 6
7:30 am - 11:30 am
St. Ambrose Cafeteria
$6.00 adults, $5.00 children
Pancake, egg, and sausage breakfast
Santa's Secret Shop, Country Store, Bake Sale, Silent Auction
Pictures with Santa

1. "Holy Childhood Association Christmas Artwork Contest," which will showcase and celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas.

2. "The Mayor's 2009 Holiday Card Design Competition," in which students are to prepare greetings "appropriate for all religions and people." (St. Ambrose students have won this honor on a number of occasions.)

It is in keeping with the Mission Statement of St. Ambrose Catholic School that we participate in events sponsored by our community as we prepare children to be examples of Christ in the global community by educating them in a spirit of understanding, peace and tolerance.

As one child so perfectly expressed it, "Did you know that Jesus was Jewish?"

The "Mayor's Card" assignment is to create a card for everyone, and the children are enjoying the challenge!

Middle School News
Challenge: In Middle School, our teachers are using differentiated instructional strategies to address the needs of all learners. In Science, Ms. Ronzio’s tests offered a variety of question tapping different learning styles and levels. Students were able to choose from a list of questions to answer on the test. In Literature, Mrs. Kar’s Holes project allowed students to choose a level of difficulty for their final project. Mrs. Schaeffer’s 7th grade is working on a scrapbook for Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. The 8th graders have been offered a number of choices for the Newspaper project for Tom Sawyer. These choices of writing assignments -- allowing students to choose the kind of writing they enjoy and at varied levels of difficulty -- challenges all students. Offering options to students for assignments and varying levels of difficulty are two of the ways that teachers incorporate Challenge into their curriculum.

Additionally, in 8th grade grammar, students are beginning "Comma Boot Camp," where every day we'll briefly look at comma rules, and students will correct sentences to show proper usage.

MaryEllen Stephens

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

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

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
 
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

PTO Special Lunch Schedule
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 dates for the First Semester lunches are as follows:
December 14 - Favazza's (Grilled Italian chicken strips and white pasta)

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'.
• 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.