With One Voice, February 22, 2012

Whenever I stop to consider the special touches that make an SFA education so meaningful, the school liturgies which we celebrate together often come to mind.  Today’s Ash Wednesday mass was a typical example.  Student song leaders, ably directed by Mrs. Jean Kelley, led the congregation in song.  Student readers stepped up to the podium with confident, strong voices to read the day’s scripture.  Father Burke spoke directly to the students in his homily and, as he so often does, took the time to explain the meaning of the symbols and gestures -- in this case, showing the children how last year’s Palm Sunday branches are carefully burned to make the ashes we will wear on our foreheads to remind us of God’s call to faithfulness.  

- Rebecca Malone

Friday Feb. 24 - HASA Movie Night

Friday March 2 - NOON DISMISSAL

Friday March 9 - 6:30 pm Lenten Soup and Bread Supper

Friday March 16 -- school closed for a professional day

Reminder:  Financial aid applications are due no later than February 29.  To date, only about half our families have completed their applications.  Re-enrollment is required in order to be considered for SFA financial aid.   Every effort will be made by the Archdiocese and SFA to support families at least at the same level as last year.  The February 29 deadline is set by the Archdiocese, not by SFA.

Scrip incentives:   Following the example of several neighboring schools, we are reinstating incentives for buying scrip and gift cards.  After the first $1000 purchased, families will be credited $25 towards tuition for every $1000 in gift cards that are purchased in their name.  (If you have already sold at least $1000 this school year, your incentives will begin immediately, starting with purchases made today.)  Grandparents and other relatives can easily help out in this way!  Order forms are in the Brown Envelope.  Have you signed up to order your scrip (gift cards) on line?  If you are interested in ordering yours today please go to www.shopwithscrip.com and enter 5EAF755C11L87. If you need assistance please call Molly at 410-319-7249.  Remember if you order your cards by Monday morning at 11:00 they will come home in your child's book bag on Thursday afternoon or you can arrange pickup.

From Sherrie Guilfoyle, HASA President:
1. Thank you to all the families who are busy selling World's Finest Candy Bars. The school receives $25.00 for each box sold. The student selling the most boxes receives 2 tickets to Medieval Times, located in Arundel Mills Mall. Please return money collected in the Brown Envelope, or to the main office. The money is due ASAP. The deadline was February 10, 2011.Slightly over half the money has been turned in--everything returned now is just profit for the school!!!!  The Home and School Association is now looking at a profit of $3,000!!!!
2. PUSS IN BOOTS is coming!!!!!     Please come to the next HASA Movie Night this Friday, February 24,2012,  from 6:30- 9:00 PM. This event is for PK - 5th grades. All children need to be accompanied by an adult. Friends are welcome to attend. There will be free refreshments and quiet activities in the back of the hall.
3. Thank you to all the students who support the SFA School Store at recess on Fridays. We still have a few keychains, and Saint Francis of Assisi T-Shirts with a new logo. Adult sizes can be ordered. The cost of each shirt is $10.00.

Math corner:  Has your child had a chance to play a new math game in class this week?  If you notice students with “playing cards” on their foreheads, it’s likely that they are learning about number bonds.  Do you know what a “fact family” is?  Here is a hint:  This Friday’s date (2-24-12) is a fact family!  Will there be another fact family this spring?

More fun stuff coming up:  The graduate students from Johns Hopkins will be here again this year for “Making Neuroscience Fun” classroom workshops.  We are also looking to schedule a LEGO-robotics on site field trip and two adventures for middle schoolers through Outward Bound and North Bay, thanks to some newly available grant funding.  Primary students will be visiting the symphony, and the academic fair is just around the corner.  Last but not least, middle school students will soon receive information about applying to the “Earn-a-Bike” program -- a chance to learn about bike safety, travel on bike trips in local parks, and actually earn a brand new, top-notch bicycle to keep the fun going for months and years to come.  

Summer STEM opportunity:  A flyer went home last week about the GEMS program : a 1-week program at the US Army Research Lab at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.  Students who are accepted must attend daily from 7:45am-4:15pm but get $100 for their week's participation.  The program is a great mix of chemistry, physics, environmental science, computer science, robotics, and materials & civil engineering where students are in a lab and working with scientists & engineers.  More information is on the flier and website:  http://www.usaeop.com/programs/GEMS/  .  The flyer can also be found on our SFA Home Page under Announcements → From the Office.

Fun stuff for grownups too!  Plans are underway to form a Father’s Club, modeled after successful ventures at local high schools.  Stay tuned for details, coming soon.

TWIGS programs in the arts for Baltimore City residents:  Brochures with information about this spring’s TWIGS auditions can be found in the school office and bulletin boards.  While most programs are for upper elementary students, at least one (dance) starts as young as second grade.  
   

Let the sun shine in!  We are so happy with the new door at the Harford Road entrance.  Prior to this, an old wooden door blocked the light and kept the stairwell dark and drab.  Now we can see out to our beautiful courtyard and watch spring unfold as we travel the stairway from the ground floor to  the second floor.  Thank you to our generous parish and school donors who made this possible!