July 22, 2010

THE STRIKE HAS ENDED!!

We are back on track with our summer projects and it seems all will be done before the beginning of school.  The new school entrance is shaping up and the parking lot work will begin next Monday.  Because we are a bit behind schedule, the asphalt will be done in one piece, so we will be traveling on gravel to Sunday Mass.  The original school building has brand new carpeting and it looks wonderful.  It has been a busy summer here. 

EMPLOYEE CHANGES

There will be some new faces this fall on our teaching faculty.  As you know from last spring, Mrs. Schubring moved out of the area and Mrs. Cooper retired.  Over the summer Mrs. Ogrin resigned her teaching position and Miss Carbone moved on to another place of employment. 

We wish them well in all they do.  There will new teachers in the primary and junior high units. 

We will also welcome a new Assistant Principal.  Her name is Mrs. Cegielski.  She has been a teacher and an assistant principal at Faith, Hope, and Charity School in Winnetka for several years.  We are pleased to welcome her to St. Pat?s!

TUITION

The first tuition payment was due by July 16^th.  If you have not made your first payment, please be sure to send tuition in as soon as possible.   If you prefer to make your first payment through RenWeb and your tuition balance is not posted on your account yet, just call the school office and we will be sure to post your account.  Thank you.

TUITION ASSISTANCE

Several of our families have applied for tuition assistance.  As we wait to hear how many qualify for help, we must monitor our account.  We need to put a temporary halt to applications until we have a better idea of the funds available for disbursement.  We appreciate your patience.

UNIFORMS

We have been receiving many calls regarding the dress code for school.  We are attaching a copy of the dress code policy and ask that you read carefully before purchasing any items.  This is also posted on our website.  When ordering through Land?s End, please be sure to use our school code when you sign in.  The school code is:  900131830.   Once you are on the school site, if you are still unsure of what to purchase, please call the school office.  Also, if you sign up to receive Land?s End emails, you will be notified of any special promotions going on. 

We do still have some uniform pieces in stock.  We have polos, both long and short sleeved (mostly in adult sizes); sweatshirts and gym uniform pieces.  They will be sold at Fee Day in the Boehm Center.  You may also call the school office to see what sizes we might have in stock.  Students will be allowed to wear the old uniforms through June of 2012. 

SCHOOL SUPPLIES - August 6 until August 15

Legislation has been enacted to create an annual state sales tax holiday for clothing and school supplies. Local and home rule sales taxes will still apply to all items.
From August 6 until August 15, residents will be able to purchase back-to-school items and only pay local sales tax. The five percent that typically goes to the state will be waived for these nine days.

Traditional school supplies such as paper, notebooks, writing instruments and other office-type materials will be subject to the sales tax break.

The tax holiday also applies to clothing items under $100 such as shoes, tops, bottoms, underwear and outerwear. Some specific items like school uniforms and limited athletic apparel are also on the approved list of sales tax holiday items.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

The school calendar is posted on our website.  We ask that you check the calendar periodically throughout the school year.   At times, it is necessary to make changes and adjustments. 

LOCKER SHELVES

Students in 4-8 grades have lockers.  If you would like to purchase a locker shelf for your locker, the following is recommended:

4-5 Grades:       Lockermate Adjustable Double Shelf, fits lockers 9-12?.  The opening for the lockers in 4/5 is only 6 inches wide.   The inside of the locker is 9?.  This is the only shelf unit they have found to work.  Do not preassemble the shelving unit, you will not be able to put it in the locker if you do.  This was found at Staples or on Amazon.

6-8 Grades:  The wire shelf units are the best for these lockers.  They have found that the adjustable ones collapse.  The wire shelf unit is 8 ½ x 11.  The 7/8 lockers cans use two and the 6 grade needs only one.

HEALTH EXAMS

Please remember:  students in K,  6^th grade and any new student to the State of Illinois require a yearly physical with  immunizations before school begins.   Kindergartners and new students to the State of Illinois will also require an eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist by October 1. 

E-MAILS

We will be sending out e-mails soon with hot lunch/pizza orders, Virtus training information, and Fee Day information.  Please be sure to continue checking your e-mail.

GURNEE & WOODLAND BUSSING

If you live in either Gurnee School District #56 or Woodland School District #50 and would like to take the bus to and from school, please be sure to fill out a bus form and send it to our office with a copy of one of your utility bills for proof of residency.  The bus companies are working on their routes now and need all forms.  If you wait until Fee Day or when school begins, it will take three to four days after they have received the forms to begin bus service.  If you have any questions or are not sure if you have sent in a form yet, please contact Sue Grum at 847-623-8446 or sgrum@stpatrickwadsworth.org.  The bus forms are posted on the school website under parent resources.  The school website is www.spswadsworth.org.    If you are not sure what school district you live in, please take a look at your tax bill or call the tax assessor?s office at 847-377-2404.

July 12, 2010

RENWEB PAYMENT

If you so chose, you are able to make your first tuition payment through RenWeb.  We have posted you yearly tuition on your account.  Decide which payment you would like to make (as per the tuition agreement) and make that payment through RenWeb.  Please remember to mail your tuition agreement to school.  Once we know which payment plan you would like, we will adjust your RenWeb account accordingly. 

The article below appeared in one of our school bulletins prior to the end of the school year.  It highlights the changes as we move from a four quarter system to a trimester format.  Since this will be our first year on a trimester format, we will evaluate the change at the end of the school year.

FORMAT CHANGE

Since the beginning St. Patrick School has followed the quarter system (four nine-week quarters).  Many schools have switched to the trimester system (three twelve-week periods) with great success.  The change from quarters to trimesters would provide many benefits. 

-- Mid term reports will be sent home mid October (rather than late September) giving the teachers more time with students in the beginning of the school year.

-- Conferences would be held later in November (avoiding the conflict with the auction date and the Veterans Day holiday.)  See school calendar.

-- When we return from spring break we will be at mid term time rather than the end of a term.

-- Grades will be given in all subjects at the end of the term.

The change from quarters to trimesters impacts the vacation policy.  The policy has been revised by the faculty.  It will appear in the parent handbook as follows:

VACATION POLICY     Pg.16

Homework will not be given prior to the vacation.  Students may take books and a laptop and check RenWeb daily for assignments.  The student should meet with teachers upon his/her return and request missing work and tests.  No tests will be administered prior to the trip.  If the student returns from a trip prior to the end of the trimester, the student may make up missing work and tests within a reasonable amount of time, to be discussed with the teacher.  If the trimester ends while the student is on vacation, a zero will be given on all missing assignments and tests.  Please check end of trimester dates and plan vacations accordingly.

JUNIOR HIGH DISCIPLINE POLICY

The junior high staff has revised the discipline policy for the junior high unit.  The focus is centered on positive behavior, holding one accountable for behavior, and meeting expectations.  The following policy will appear in the handbook on page 9.  The teachers will provide an informational letter at the beginning of the school year explaining the procedures connected with the revised policy. 

The 2010-2011 academic year is divided into trimesters.  In an effort to encourage positive academic and behavioral habits in our students, there will be three activities - one at the end of each trimester.  These activities will serve as rewards for students who regularly show good study habits and positive, Christian behaviors.

Academic deficiencies and poor behavior will result in demerits.  Each time a child receives a demerit, the parent will receive notification via backpack mail.  The parent must read, sign, and return these notices.  If a child has 12 academic demerits, 12 uniform maintenance demerits, 6 behavioral demerits, a final grade of an "F" in any subject area (including Spanish, Computer, PE/Health), or one suspension, he/she will not be invited to participate in the reward activity at the end of that trimester. These students will still attend school on the day of the activity; they will be supervised by a teacher and will be responsible for completing an academic packet.  Demerits are not cumulative so they will not carry over to the next trimester.                               

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

We are happy to report that the carpeting has been completed in the original school building.  It looks beautiful.  We continue to prepare for the new school year with painting, washing desks, cleaning windows, etc.  That is the good news. 

The not so good news is the work stoppage due to the labor strike.  The work on the entrance to the school began promptly on June 9 and ended abruptly on July 1.   The parking lot project has also come to a halt.  Please pray that issues get resolved and the work continues.  It is most frustrating to see these days pass by without progress. 

We do ask that you mail paperwork to us, rather than stopping in.  We do keep outside doors locked during the day while the construction is pending.  Please feel free to email or call us.                                                                                                                                     ---Mrs. B.