No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another,
God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. I John 4:12
Dear
Parents/Guardians,
It
is here!! It is the end of the school year already. Where has all the
time gone? It wasn't too long ago that I was just beginning my tenure and
this year's 8th grade students were in 1st grade.
Now they are getting ready to leave us and start a new journey.
Congratulations to the class and to you, the parents, who have nurtured and
supported them through their elementary and middle school years.
The eighth grade Class Night will be Wednesday, May 15th.
During this event awards and recognitions will be given. The Celebration
Mass of Graduation will be Thursday evening, May 16th.
Other
important dates for the month of May are:
·
May 10th the BVM awards
will be given during all school mass.
·
May 10th is our volunteer
appreciation brunch after mass.
·
May 17th is the date for the
end of the year celebrations for our Pre-K and our Kindergarten.
·
May 22nd is the
"Growing in Faith" celebration and retreat for the 7th
grade.
·
May 23rd is our Field
Day.
·
May 24th is our last day
of school, and it is a half day.
Also
during this month our transition meetings are taking place. These
meetings are with your child's next year teachers to give you some information
about what to expect.
As always, there will be some
changes next year. As most of you know, Mrs. Pack and Mrs. Meinert are
retiring. Ms. Laura Goodhard will be going to 2nd grade and
Mrs. Ann O'Brien is going to 7th grade. We are now in the
process of interviewing for the openings in art and 7th grade
language arts. Another change next year is going to be in the school
uniforms. Next school year, the blue polos (instead of the white)
will be worn by the 6th graders as well as the khaki
pants (instead of the blue ones) just as the 7th and 8th
grade students wear now. The 5th-8th grade girls
will have the option to wear a new skort instead of the skirt. The skort
is in the same plaid as our skirts and may only be gotten at Educational
Outfitters. We are phasing out the skirt, and this process will be
completed in 4 yrs. At that time the skort will not be an option, but it
will be mandatory. We are also making changes in the shoes.
Although brown leather loafers and tie shoes are still an option, we are no
longer allowing the deck/boat (Sperry) shoes. They have been too dangerous
and sloppy. We are; however, adding some color options to the tennis
shoes. In addition to the all white tennis shoe, we are allowing all
black and all gray. Our Friday dress code is going to be more in line
with the other Diocesan schools. Our middle school boys will be wearing a
white oxford shirt and school approved tie, while the girls will be wearing
their skirts/skorts with white oxford shirts and knee socks. This
is just a summary of the changes. Our uniforms in the CAG closet are still
available. Attached is the formally written up dress code that will be in your
handbook. This gives you more details and information.
We received our TCAP Writing and our
IOWA test scores back, and you will be receiving them with the report
cards. As expected, the scores are lower than they had been in the
past. However, our composites are still above the national
average. If you recall, they are newly normed tests and they match the
Common Core Standards which we are now implementing. We will be analyzing
the data and making adjustments to our curriculum maps so that we continue to
be a school of high academic standards and expectations.
Some miscellaneous
information:
·
A flyer went home about a soccer
camp at UTC headed by their soccer coach J.D. Kyzer. If you are thinking
about sending your child to this camp, please write in OLPH in the "school
affiliation" line. They will be donating some of the registration
fees back to us.
·
Tomorrow, May 4th, the
Junior League of Chattanooga is having a free public event at Coolidge Park
entitled "Kids in the Kitchen" which is geared to healthy eating and
lifestyles.
·
For Field Day this year, Mrs. Mohler
is bringing her Gyro-X-treme ride. There will be a $5.00 charge to ride
this as it is a fundraiser for the rising 8th graders. This is
an option; it is not required. More will be coming out
before Field Day.
I wish you all a wonderful and safe
summer.
God bless,
Jeri McInturff