Weekly Memo
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WEEKLY PARENT MEMO January 17, 2012 |
2012-13 TUITION RATES ANNOUNCED: The St. Patrick Catholic Church Finance Committee has approved the budget for the 2012-13 school year. After thoughtful deliberations and prayer, there has been a 4.5% increase in tuition due to projected enrollment, salaries and benefits, and the re-introduction of Spanish to the curriculum.
For a family paying the active family rate with one child enrolled, this represents an increase of $20 per month over 10 months or $200 per year. For the standard rate family the increase is $25 per month over 10 months or $250 per year.
If you feel tuition exceeds your capacity to pay, you are encouraged to file with FACTS to be considered for a tuition grant for next year (www.factstuitionaid.com). If you are a member of another Catholic parish, you may also discuss your desire to provide your child(ren) with a Catholic education with your parish Pastor. Bishop Burbidge has issued a letter calling for the support of Catholic education by parishes that do not offer a Catholic School for their parishioners.
Other changes for the 2012-2013 school year:
This year we are requesting that you register your children using the Headmaster database. On your parent page there is a drop down option “Enrollment” and it is so easy to do. You may also register a new student at the same time.
Tuition will be paid exclusively through the FACTS Tuition Management Program. The fees (registration, book, and technology) may be paid online through the website using Authorize.Net.
HELP FOR STUDENTS: Every system needs a back-up. Headmaster Pro is no exception. It is possible that Headmaster or our computer network here at school may “fail” from time-to-time and leave students and parents with no access to homework or project assignment information. Your computer at home may crash as well with the same consequences. To guard against these consequences we have and will continue to provide each student with an assignment book, which also includes our handbook information. Use of that book for assignments is critical to a student’s un-interrupted success and avoidance of anxiety and tension at home. Teachers still post homework and long-term assignments on the board in their classrooms each day. Conscientious students will enter those assignments in their assignment book each day as a back-up to the vagaries of technology.
8TH GRADE HISTORY PROJECTS: The 8th graders have completed their NC history projects which have been on display in the library for the past two days. The 1st place winners are: Jenna Bradburn (NC pottery) and Mary Talkington (U-352 the German U-Boat sunk off of NC coast). The 2nd place winners are: Jacob Fonke (Hardee’s) and Rosebud Harrison (Cape Fear Regional Theater). The 3rd place winners are: Erin Gillum (Underground Railroad) and Micaela Shea (Pepsi). There are also several Honorable Mentions: Jack Adorjan-Lumbee Indians; Catherine Herring-Operation Bumble Bee; Thomas Follett-Iron Mike; and Rosalee Paroli-Oval Ballroom. Congratulations to these students for a job well done!
In April, the first place winners will carry their projects to the state level competition at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh.
YES YOU CAN!: This past week 1st grade parent Dr. Kelli Walsh came to me with a request that we permit the establishment of a Lego robotics activity at St. Patrick for our students. My response: Go for it! I will support any parent or faculty sponsored after school activity for our students that is beneficial to them. I will work with the sponsors of new groups just as I have with Mrs. Rideout’s recorder club, Mrs. Ottilige and Mrs. Lowe’s Battle of the Books, the parents of our Scouts, Mr. Rowe’s jump rope and stunts and tumbling, etc. to provide a place for the activity and communicate its availability and schedule to our school community. The more the better. I have also recently become aware of a diocesan-wide chess tournament available to chess clubs in our Catholic schools.
BE PREPARED: Our PVO has decided to sponsor the Tool Box program again this year. It’s an easy and economical way for you to provide your student with all the requested school supplies for their individual classrooms without having to take the time and burn the gasoline to go from store to store to fill the list. Everything you need to provide will be here in school for you to pick up on Orientation Day, Tuesday, August 14th. Order forms will be provided or you can do the modern, green thing; order and pay on-line. Watch for further details soon.
FLU AND VIRUS SEASON: This is the time of year that we see many children with coughs, colds and flu. Your child must be un-medicated fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school. If your child is sick, please let them stay home until they are well.
YEARBOOK: The deadline for Tributes and Ads has been extended until next Friday, February 24th. Anyone who has reserved a space for a tribute or an ad needs to finish it and submit it by next Friday. Please e-mail Trish Miekley with pictures, ads, or anything else that is needed. All monies for Tributes and Ads are due March 1st. Contact Trish for any questions or helpJ trish424@nc.rr.com You may still purchase a yearbook for $35. Please be mindful of these deadlines. Thank you!! We are always seeking good quality pictures of our students (Pre-School through 8th Grade) from school and class events. Please e-mail to Trish.
PARISH MEET AND GREET: The next meet and greet weekend is March 3rd and 4th. Volunteers are needed to represent PVO and our school for a short time after each Mass in the social hall. Please contact Maria Herring to schedule your time. smherring@aol.com.
EASY, NEW FUNDRAISERS FOR 2012: Please don’t forget our regular dining nights at Mi Casita on the first Tuesday and Spinners Pizza on the second Thursday of the month. St. Patrick PVO receives a portion of the profits from these restaurants in support of their fundraising efforts this year.
EVENTS FOR THE WEEK OF February 20 through February 24:
Monday, Feb. 20 – Presidents’ Day – No School
Tuesday, Feb. 21– Soda & Candy sale during Lunches Russian Duo, Arts Council Assembly 2pm, Gym
Wednesday, Feb. 22 – Ash Wednesday Liturgy 9am
Thursday, Feb. 23 – Lent Prayer Assembly 9am, Conf. Suite
Friday, Feb. 24 – End of Second Trimester
