Principal's Reminders

May 10, 2013

May 8th, 2013

May 8th, 2013

  What a beautiful week!!  There were so many sunburned faces come Monday morning.  This year it seems as though God has blessed us with a short spring, one that quickly turned to summer.  I hope I am not speaking too soon. 

   Today the fourth and fifth graders will make their way out to the Lockport Locks as a continuum of their studies of New York State and the Erie Canal. Next week our eighth graders will go to Ellicottville and Splash Lagoon for their eighth grade class trip.

   Friday we will induct Abby Evancho, Corean Dickson, Carly Hardick, Matthew Mayer, and Alexia Calcaterra into the Junior National Honor Society.  These students were nominated first, because of academic excellence but there are other criteria that come into play before each are formally elected into JNHS, Leadership, Service, Citizenship, and Character.  Each student nominated must fill out the JNHS candidacy form and include in writing how they have exemplified these qualities throughout their lives.  They then must complete student interviews with both the JNHS Faculty Council Members and Msgr. Zapfel.  I congratulate all of the inductees.  They are a very special and hardworking group of students. 

  Our praying mantises hatched yesterday.  Mrs. Domin walked into my office carrying the bug bungalow with eyes as wide as quarters.  Inside, were over two hundred mantis nymphs!  The next step in the process was finding out what to feed them!  Thanks to Morgan, who very often is a “Walking Encyclopedia”, we found out they are carnivorous.  Thank goodness we have a wonderful secretary! Before she knew it, Mrs. Barrick was off to Markeim Pet’s to purchase fruit flies.  Everything at St. Leo the Great is a learning experience, even for me!  As you can see, we have had a fun and adventurous spring season!

  Reregistration is coming along.  If you haven’t reregistered, please do so quickly as it is so important to know who we need to order books for next year.  If you cannot get your re registration fees in at this time, please fill out the confirmation form sent home in your child’s report card so I know to order books for him/her. 

  Summer music lessons are being offered this year by Miss G.  The forms are being sent home today.  We have decided because of lack of interest and low participation in past summers to forgo running the Summer Enrichment program for our K-5 students.  However, we will continue to run the Preschool/prekindergarten program for the summer . If you have a three or four year old, or a child entering kindergarten in the fall and are interested please call the office to inquire. 

  We have decided to postpone the benefit concert with the  musical group, “The Union” until next year in the fall.  This will give us more time to plan, organize, and give everyone hopefully a quieter time in their lives in order to be able to participate.  The spring is so busy for everyone.  Next year we hope to hold it in October.  The concert’s proceeds will go toward furnishing a smart board for the middle school wing as well as support for afterschool clubs for our kids.  Please look for it on our September calendar.  I hope everyone will mark it on theirs so we have a great showing. 

  There is a conflict in dates for the pilgrimage to the Basilica and the Cathedral.  The trip for the eighth graders is being switched from the 21st to the 23rd of May.  We are in need of another driver.  If you are and eighth grade parent and are able to help transport some students, please let me know. 

Have a Wonderful Week Everyone. Happy Mother’s Day to all of our special Moms!

 

Mrs. Carolyn Kraus

  

   

   

 

 

 

April 11, 2013

April 11th, 2013

Dear Parents,

    I hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed Easter.  I asked the younger students if they were happy to get back to school and 100 percent reported they were happy to be back inside their classrooms.  I asked the older students and well…… you probably know the answer to that question.  I know the teachers were dragging yesterday.  It’s hard to get back into the swing of things after being on a different schedule for the week.  They earned their  well deserved break. Everyone has been working so hard to get our students ready for those high stakes tests that will take place in the next couple of weeks.  

   This week could not be busier.  I am grateful to the Amherst police for coming into our school to speak to our students in grade 4 through 8 about cyber safety.   I hesitated to include the fourth and fifth graders but after asking how many had face book pages, cell phones, and game systems that communicate across the internet, I decided it was a good idea to have them included in this very important safety program. 

   Congratulations fifth graders!  They attended their  D. A. R. E. Graduation last night.  Thank you, Officer Onions for educating our students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.   

   I want to congratulate a group of our accelerated math students in seventh grade.  They competed in the St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute Brother Martin Math Competition.  Everyone did a spectacular job.  Congratulations, Audrey Filonczuk, she earned two awards and Andrew Kirchgessner and JJ Kassem for earning awards as well.  Thank you Mrs. Leone, and all of our teachers for the exemplary job you have done in educating our students in Mathematics.  You can be so proud!

  By the time you read this letter, our six, seventh, and eighth grade students will have attended the Education Tax Credit Rally.  I am sure if will be covered on the local TV stations.  This is an important learning experience for our students.  I hope  our presence at the rally and the presence of many other schools who attended today encourage our Legislators to pass this very important bill. 

  Dads, Grandpa’s and special friends, don’t forget about our Father Daughter Dance on the 20th of April.  Come dance the night away with that special lady/ladies in your life. Tickets are being sold in the school office. 

   Tomorrow we will hold an Art Show and Ice Cream Social for our second Open House.  Please come take a look at the wonderful work Miss Thrun and our school artists have finished throughout this year.  The Art show begins at 6:30 and goes until 8:00 pm. 

   Soccer will be starting soon.  If your child has signed up to play, the coach for each division will be calling you very soon. 

  Soccer Shots for our little ones in grades pre k through 2nd grade is starting soon as well.  The flyers are coming home today for sign up.

  Spring pictures as well as graduation pictures for preschool through kindergarten are arriving home today.  They must be returned in seven days. 

  Our Spring concert is scheduled for May 2nd.  It is mandatory for all students as they are graded on their participation.  Please mark your calendars. 

  The speed bumps have been reinstalled in the parking lot so please take heed and drive safely when entering and exiting. 

  Finally, we thank Mr. Luke Gozelski and the Gozelski family for the opportunity to hatch chickens as part of our life cycle curriculum here at school.  Don’t forget to go in and take a look at the twenty chicks cohabitating in our school library.  Pretty soon we will have frogs hatching in second grade, lady bugs in third grade, praying mantises in fourth, and butterflies in preschool, prekindergarten, kindergarten, and first.  In addition, we will begin to plant our school garden.  Spring has sprung here at St. Leo the Great School even though the weather may not tell us so. 

  Congratulations goes out to Kimorah in Kindergarten and Demetreus in second grade.  They became a big sister and a big brother over the school break.  Congratulations, prayers, and blessings go out to their families. 

Have a Great Week Everyone,

God Bless,

 

Mrs. Carolyn Kraus

 

 

March 20, 2013

March 20th, 2013

Dear Parents,

     Happy first day of spring!  It will come soon I am sure.  As I spoke with the children this morning at morning meeting, I told them I couldn’t believe we only had one week left of school before Easter Break.  The time flies so quickly.  This second half of the year is very busy for everyone.

    Please keep our teachers and students in your prayers as they work tirelessly to prepare the students in grades three through eight for the New York State Tests in English Language Arts and Mathematics.  As everyone knows,  and I am sure you may be tired of hearing the new “Common Core Standards, are in effect for this year’s state tests.  In order for us to prepare our students well for College and Career Readiness, there have been six shifts in the standards in both ELA and Mathematics.   There has been quite a lot to learn for the educators of our school, I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for parents to understand and learn all there is to know about these new standards.  It is for this reason, that I would like you to know of two websites that are available.  Each provides great information for parents..  If you are interested in knowing more about the changes to your child’s curriculum here at school you may visit, www.engageny, or www.nysed.gov.    The English Language Arts exam will be held over the course of three days, from April 16- 18th, and the Mathematics tests will be held the following week from April 24 through the 26th. 

   I want to congratulate our youngest boys’ basketball team for their wonderful and exciting season.  They ended their season with a  tear jerking loss to Nativity in the championship game.  I especially loved the scene where Teddy McDuffie stood on the foul line in front of the basket ready to take two shots.   Not a peep could be heard, and I saw him bless himself.  I’ll hold that picture in my heart forever.  The game was so close for so long but our boys never gave up and they worked hard until the end.  I was so proud of them! Congratulations 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade boys! We are proud of your accomplishments.  Thank you, Mr. McDuffie and Mr. Trotter and all of your coaching helpers for a season to be proud of. 

   The Catholic Charities Carnival is being planned as I write to you today.  Mrs. Feger is still collecting prizes for the carnival.  Grade 8 will be selling raffle and game tickets beginning tomorrow morning in Leo’s Den during breakfast.  They are five for a dollar or 25 cents each.  Remember, Wednesday, March 27th is a half day for everyone.  There will be mass in the morning but no breakfast will be served as the children will be buying pizza and eating  at the carnival. 

  School will resume on April 8th.  The Tax Reform Rally will be held on April 10th and our sixth, seventh, and eighth grade classes will be attending the rally as representatives of our school.  Additional information about the rally is coming home today in the folders for those students.  Parents, if you have not turned in your child’s permission slip for the field trip, please do so ASAP. 

  The Cyber Bullying presentation originally planned for last week had to be cancelled because the presenter had a family emergency.  We have a tentative date of April 9th but I will keep you posted when we get the date formally confirmed. 

  It is time to think about the Father Daughter/ Grandpa/Special Friend Dance.  Today a flyer is in the folders of all the girl’s in the school.  We have a great night planned for April 20th.  It was so successful last year.  I am hoping to have a great crowd this year as well. 

  Finally, and I hate to end on a sad note, Miss Fini has resigned as our Spanish Teacher.  She has accepted a position with the Buffalo Schools.  I am in the process of interviewing this week to find the right person to fill her position. Her last day will be Friday, March 22nd.  If you have any concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to call the school office. 

 DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE EAT IN FAMILY FISH FRY ON GOOD FRIDAY EVERYONE! MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW!! 

Have a Great Week Everyone,

 

Mrs. Kraus

 

   

 

March 15, 2013

March 15th, 2013

Dear Parents,

    This Friday the teachers have a wonderful night planned for our Preschool through fourth grade families.  Literacy Night is scheduled for Friday evening from 6:30 to 8:00.  Our primary grades have been working very hard to meet their reading goals over these past few months.  I wonder who will win the top prize for the greatest reading minutes overall?  Thank you Miss Deegan and all of the classroom teachers involved for everything that went into planning the Reading Incentive program and this exciting final event.   I am looking forward to the Buffalo Museum of Science turning our gym into a mobile planetarium as we look at the stars and learn more about the constellations and the wonderful things to look for in the night time sky.  There will be a walk through planetarium with rainbow and constellation stations.   Come on out and learn more with us!  

  We have had a very wonderful and successful Basketball seasons.  I want to once again, thank all of our coaches.  Many of our teams have gone undefeated throughout the season.  Our youngest boys team has also had a very successful run.  I would like to congratulate them for a wonderful season as well and wish them luck at the championship game this Saturday.  I am very proud of all of you.  Great Luck to all of you this Saturday and remember, I am proud of you not only for your accomplishments on the court but, also for the wonderful sportsmanship you have shown throughout the season, Thank you!

  This April, 45 schools in the Diocese of Buffalo will participate in the Investment in Education Tax Rally at the First Niagara Arena on the 11th.  The Diocese of Buffalo and Bishop Malone have asked  all schools to participate and show a presence at the rally.   With parent permission, I would like to take the six, seventh, and eighth grade students of St. Leo’s to the arena on the 11th.  Parents are encouraged to come along and experience this with us.  Please read the information coming home in the folder today.  There is a fact sheet about the Tax Credit Legislation that accompanies the parent letter, along with a permission slip for all six, seventh, and eighth grade students.  More information and directions will come home in the coming weeks.  This event is very well planned and organized.  If this tax credit bill is passed it will benefit our families and Catholic Education as a whole.  Please read all of the information and consider joining our school on the eleventh of April to try and get this very important legislation passed! 

  Don’t forget about our Fish Fry Dinners on these last few Fridays of Lent.  There will be an eat- in dinner on Good Friday.  Last week there was a sheet sent home to order dinners. 

  Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!  I know our little leprechauns in pre k, kindergarten, and first grade have been diligently looking for that sneaky little leprechaun character in their classroom throughout the month of March. I have heard he has been playing tricks on them each and every day. 

  This Friday will be Dress in green day in Celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.   All students may be out of uniform. 

  Don’t forget about the Home School Meeting next Tuesday, the 19th of March at 7:00 PM in Leo’s Den. The candy pickup will be March 22nd  in the art room.  The 22nd will also be the last day to order yearbooks. 

 

PRINCIPAL’S REMINDERS:

MARCH 15TH- DRESS IN GREEN DAY FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY

MARCH 15TH – LITERACY NIGHT 6:30- 8:00- BUFFALO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE PLANETARIUM PRESENTATION

MARCH 19TH – HOME SCHOOL ASSOCIATION MEETING

MARCH 22ND – CANDY PICKUP IN THE ART ROOM

MARCH 22ND – LAST DAY TO ORDER YEAR BOOKS

  

 

February 28, 2013

02/28/2013

 

Dear Parents,

    I hope everyone had a great week off.  The other day, I asked the teachers whether they would rather have a longer break at Easter or keep the break as it is now.  The faculty members I was speaking to unanimously said, “Keep the February Break.”  I don’t know if parents feel the same, but I guess from a teaching stand point I understand the need to take a breather during these seemingly long months in the middle of the school year.  Winter gets old, and sometimes, so does the routine.  I hope this little rest has given everyone a little breathe of fresh air and the idea that maybe the weather will hopefully turn to warmer and brighter days very soon. 

   As the weeks fly by, New York State Testing is approaching quickly.  The English Language Arts examination in grades three through eight will expand over the course of three days from April 16 through April 18th.  I know we can’t control sickness, but parents if you could please make sure not to schedule any appointments during the school days on those days, it would be greatly appreciated.  The New York State Mathematics examination is scheduled for the following week from April 24th through April 26th.  The New York State Algebra Regents exam for our advance math eighth graders is scheduled for June 12th at 1:15 PM. 

  Next week on Thursday, March 7th we will have the area private high schools here to give presentations to our seventh graders.  It is our annual High School Recruitment Day.  Our seventh graders will be involved and will have the chance to sit in on three of their choice high schools to learn about what each has to offer. 

   On March 8th, our teachers will be involved in a professional development day here at school.  There will be no school for our students on that day. 

   We are half way between the third marking period.  Progress reports will be mailed home on Wednesday, March 6th.   As always, if you have any concerns about your child’s progress throughout the third quarter, don’t hesitate to call to set up an appointment with your child’s teacher. 

   Don’t forget about the Home School Association Fish Fry’s.  They are each Friday during the season of Lent, from 4:00 until 7:00 or until the fish runs out.  All of them are take out only, except for the last one on Good Friday.  It will be take out and eat in as well.  I hear they are spectacular!

  With the increased use of technology, face book, face time, and video games by school age children, I thought it would be a good idea to schedule a session on Cyber bullying for our 4th through eighth grade children.  Officer Onion will be here on the 12th of March at 9:30 to talk to the students.  All parents are welcome to attend if you would like.

  Finally, I can’t close without saying, this year’s “Lights, Camera, Auction,” was a spectacular event.  There are thank you’s to go out to so many it would be tough to list them all, so please know of the appreciation and gratitude I hold in my heart for all that everyone did to make this year’s auction as successful as it was.  Debbie and Ken Evancho, Kathy and Mitch Mayer, Anne Walawander, Mrs. Sobol, Mrs. Kirchgessner, Anita Murphy, and everyone who helped.  Thank you for your time and the energy you put into making this such a special and fun night.  Mr. Felong,  the Felong family is one lucky family.  They must eat well every night!  The dinner was delicious.  I know how much time and effort it takes to pull something off such as this.  Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication.  Thank you to all who supported the night as well.  It truly was a night to remember. 

Have a Wonderful Week Everyone,

 

Mrs. Carolyn Kraus