Basketball

Pictures (team & individual) will be taken on Tue 2/22. Students should bring basketball uniforms to school, will change during lunch, take pictures, and then return their uniform to Blessed Sacrament.

Volleyball

Interested girls in 4th through 8th grades should return registration forms (available in main office) by Wed 2/23.

I am sorry to report that the main school building was broken into over the weekend.  A few computers and small electronics were stolen and several windows and door locks will need to be repaired/replaced.  Thank you to Eddie Kane, Tammy Ours, and Alfie Marquez for their help getting things back to operational for Monday.

Please take a moment to read the update provided by Seeds of Hope Director Betsy Boudreau on Income Tax Credit HB 1048. From my perspective, this is something we should all get involved in by communicating with our legislators. It is a win-win for both Catholic and public schools. Public schools are confronted with drastic budget cuts due to reduced property valuations, resulting in teacher layoffs and larger class sizes. Catholic school enrollment relieves additional pressure on the already strained budgets. As you all know, Catholic schools provide an excellent education that addresses the development of the whole child (moral/spiritual, academic and physical). In the 2010 Archdiocesan survey, this was the number one reason parents choose to send their children to Catholic schools. There is no doubt that we need excellent public schools, but a tax credit for private school senders will not compromise their quality -  if anything, Catholic schools raise the bar and serve as an impetus for public school improvements. Please review the update here and contact your representatives.

A few days ago I heard a song by Jaime Theiten called “Yesterday’s News” about the singer’s experience of walking past a homeless man in zero degree temperatures.  The man had newspapers wrapped around his feet and tied with rope.  Because the less fortunate continue to suffer after the holiday season of giving, the Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a Sock Drive for Father Woody’s Haven of Hope shelter. Students are asked to bring socks, new or used, to their classrooms next week (Tue Feb 22 through Fri Feb 25). The Knights of Columbus will award a Pizza Party to the class who collects the most socks “per capita.” We appreciate the Knights providing another opportunity to open our students’ eyes to the needs of the homeless.

Pope John Paul II said, “Playing sports has become very important today, since it can encourage young people to develop important values such as loyalty, perseverance, friendship, sharing and solidarity.” This idea goes hand in hand with the mission of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School and was evidenced so much in this year’s Falcons Basketball season. There is nothing better than watching confidence grow in young athletes as they develop new skills and abilities. As the season comes to a close, I want to take the opportunity to thank all of the wonderful volunteer coaches who gave of their time and talents to provide our players with memories they will cherish for a lifetime:  Molly Walsh, Carolyn Burr, Chris and Sandy Roper, Steve Michalek, Steve Lundt, Joe Vaeth, Bob Padgett, Chris Crosby, Pat Harris, Ryan Lewis, Eddie Egloff, Dan Tighe, Doug Brunner, James and Joe Harvey. Thanks to the dedication you showed and for the happy faces you brought to our students.  After the 4^th grade girls won the Widget championship this weekend, one of the parents said something to me that tells it all, “How funny -  last year they couldn’t make a basket, and this year they win in a double overtime shoot-off!” Congratulations to all of our players, coaches, and parents!

Thank you to Alexander Thomas (father of second grader Will) for donating several new basketballs to the school to keep the kids playing!

Picture day for all the basketball teams will be next Tue Feb 22. Players should bring their uniforms to school, change into them for the photographs, and then return them to the school office.

Volleyball season for girls in 4^th-8^th grade is around the corner!  Please return registration forms by next Wed, Feb 23.  The forms are available in the main office.  We are also in need of some additional coaches, so please contact Mr. Kane if you are available to help.

Mrs. Styron is in need of some period costumes for the 7^th grade play, Twelfth Night.  The play will be performed next Thu Feb 24, at 1pm, and next Fri Feb 25, at 7:00pm in the Miller Center Theatre at Montview Presbyterian Church.  Please come support our young actors and actresses!

Thanks to the parents who chaperoned the Middle School Valentine’s dance at St. Therese: Richard and Anne Tunnell, Rodney and CJ Mays, and Jessica Massey. Rumor has it that Richard was showing Anne the box step he learned during his junior high years in Texas.  I hope everyone had such fun for St. Valentine’s Day!

God Bless—

• Violet Rainwater (6th): makes birthday cards for her classmates and has everyone sign them as a surprise!

• Lunchroom Volunteers: We greatly appreciate any volunteer hours you can provide in the school lunchroom! By having parent assistance, the entire lunch process runs much more efficiently. Below you'll find links to both the Jan/Feb sign-up and the Mar/Apr sign-up. If you are able to help out where you can and/or review your sly reply responses to confirm what you have already signed up for it would help out the children tremendously. Many thanks for all that you do!
  
  K-8 Lunch sign-ups for Jan/Feb
  
  K-8 Lunch sign-ups for Mar/Apr
  
  Preschool Lunch sign-ups for Jan/Feb
  
  Download February Lunch Calendar here


• Income Tax Credit: There is still time to contact members of the House Finance Committee regarding establishing a private school tuition income tax credit beginning Jan 1, 2012. Contacting your representative could help pass this legislation, allowing families to have more educational options. Please click here for more details.