PRINCIPAL’S
CORNER EXTENDED
A number of parents have asked why we are returning
to school on December 19th for one-half day. Good question! Our
superintendent, Bob Mizia, has insisted that all Catholic schools in this
Archdiocese schedule 179 instructional days. While very few schools
have tried to get around this, we have always been faithful to the 179
days. Mr. Mizia use to recognize the need for teacher
planning days at the end of the trimester, but no longer supports
this. We are told that if we go to school for 1/2 day it is counted
as an instructional day. Therefore, in order to get all of our
instructional days in, while offering our teachers at least two 1/2 days
for grading and one full day for goal setting for the following year, I
have tried to schedule our 179 instructional days while still allowing
for two full weeks off at Christmas. On his original calendar for
2005-06, we would not have gotten out of school until December
22nd.
We’ve also tried to recognize the need to remain
closely aligned to Portland
Public School’s
yearly calendar, especially for those who either work in PPS or who have
children in PPS.
As for this year, we anticipate that our turnout on
the 19th will be sparse, and therefore, no serious teaching will take
place on that day! As a result, we are encouraging room parents to
have their party on Friday, December 16th. I’m asking room parents
to check with your classroom teacher to establish the best time to have
one.
This is not an ideal situation, we know, but as
members of the Archdiocesan school system, we have to comply whether we
like it or not. Parents may certainly write Mr. Mizia to shed light
on how this effects your family. His address is 2838 East Burnside,
Portland, OR 97214.
In the meantime, don’t let this dampen the spirit of the season! As
we break for Thanksgiving, let me express my gratitude to all of
you. While I cannot begin to identify one-by-one the contribution
of each parent in our school, I am keenly aware that our successes and
the improvements we make to our school are the direct result of an
excellent faculty and extremely supportive parents who roll up their
sleeves and help us provide the best in Catholic education.
Let us count our blessings on the 24th, first and
foremost, thanking God for family and friends who see us through the
worst and best of times. Let’s not forget how fortunate we are to
be in a faith community, and then one that takes care of their own and
many others.
I ask for your continued prayers for our “sister”
school in Waveland, Mississippi who are most grateful for
all the supplies you sent them. They continue to have a rough road
ahead. The pictures I received of their school in Quonset huts
looks very cramped and definitely not a great learning environment.
On behalf of our faculty, we do give thanks….for
you, for your children, and for our school and parish. God bless!
Now you have the whole story! -Sr. Moe-
5TH GRADE GIRLS HAVE A SMASHING SEASON OF
VOLLEYBALL!
The results are in!
The fifth grade girls
volleyball team wrapped up a smashing season this past weekend by wining
fourth place in the CYO Spike Tournament. They advanced in their first
game on Thursday night against Our Lady of Lourdes in a two game series
that advanced them from the lower division "Rally" Tournament
into the upper division "Spike" Tournament. They lost Friday
night against St. Joseph's
in a close three game series. Saturday's game against Our Lady of Sorrows
was a nail bitter, but the team prevailed in another three game series.
Finally, on Sunday evening, they beat Cathedral in a two game series and
won the fourth place CYO "Spike" Tournament Trophy. Please
congratulate these girls for a great season. They played and worked hard
together as a team.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Previous Page Next Page