Dear SKS Families,
The pictures in this blog show some of the many events that are part of our SKS school day:
SKS Science Fair
SKS Goes West party
Children’s Author Visit
Kindergarten butterfly project
Reading Olympics
Principal for a Day
Other scenes around school…
As we finish this short week, we have a chance to celebrate Easter and get a break from school. I hope your Easter, whether you are staying home or traveling, is a joyful and peaceful one with your families. I hope you and your families get to be together in prayer to praise, thank and ask God for His blessings on each and every one in your famly.
Sean Mc Glinn Update
Please keep the McGlinn family close in prayer and in your hearts. Sean continues to make progress after his release from CHOP. His treatment plan will begin in May. Anne Condello sent out an electronic sign up for meals, thank you for your incredible response to it. The list was completed in less than one day! A true sign of love and support from our SKS community. Times like these define our SKS family. Thank you.
Rosary in May on Wednesday Nights
Now that the weather is warmer, upon our return from Easter, we invite our SKS Community to come to the grotto on Wednesday evenings to say the rosary. May is the month for our Blessed Mother and meeting in the grotto at 7:30pm on Wednesday nights would be a great way to pray for our SKS families. Try to bring your family out one evening and have it take precedence over another activity. That would send an important message to your children. We can send reminders to you for Wednesdays.
Beginning of the End (of school)
We are always busy here at SKS, which is a good thing for the most part. When we return back from Easter break it is our busiest time of year. Why? Besides the regular day to day classroom learning, we have many activities such as the May Procession, 8th grade Parent Dinner, Kindergarten graduation, and many class field trips. Also the 8th Grade, Class of 2019, gets ready to move on. Teachers are finishing up curriculum, preparing students for performance assessments and final exams as students get prepared for the next grade. FAculty also receives their End of Year Checklist from me that includes things like book orders, summer reading and math, permanent record transcripts, and making the class lists for the following year.
Class Lists for Next Year
Compiling the class lists for the following school year is a planning challenge. The teachers spend a great deal of time working to create a balanced mix of the two classes. It starts with dividing the two classes in each grade heterogeneously (we would never want any semblance of one class being dubbed as the “smart class.”) We also want a reasonable balance of boys and girls. Social, emotional, and special needs of students are taken into consideration. Sometimes a parent will request a certain teacher for their child through this year’s teacher or to me. While I understand you advocating for what you may see as a best fit for your child, we cannot assure placement of any child with any certain teacher or with certain classmates. With 389 students, one can imagine the chaos it would cause if tried to fill requests. These class lists will be finalized before school is out so Anne can get started on her database work for scheduling of each student.
Return from Easter Break
There is no class for students on Tuesday April 25th, the teachers have an in-service that day. We will be getting ready for the beginning of the end and also have time to work with the Virtual Reality Viewers. Please don’t send your child to school on Tuesday. We usually have one or two students show up during our meetings! Students return the following day, Wednesday April 26.
Spring Cultural Arts Night (SCAN)
Every other year we have Spring Cultural Arts Night (SCAN) in the Parish Center and gym. This is a celebration of our students’ work in the performing arts. The SKS Parish Center will be turned magically into an art museum displaying the work of our talented students. The SKS Art Museum will be open from 6 to 7 pm. At 7 pm, in the SKS Kimmel Center (aka the gym), our community will be entertained by various groups such as the SKS School Band and three different SKS Choral Groups. There will also be performances by some of our SKS Forensics Team, some of our Irish Dancers, and poetry readings from SKS students. If you wish to be a SCAN Sponsor for this night and support the ARTS at SKS you can do so by clicking here.
BLOCS EITC – FACTS Form
As you look to next year, I encourage any family who is concerned about tuition to apply for financial aid through the Facts Form. Did you know that depending on each family’s situation, a family earning $120,000 can still qualify for financial aid? Please click here for the information on our Financial Aid.
SK5K – Registration
Good things happen when you run (or walk). This a great day for our SKS Community. It’s fun, upbeat, and we are all together. You can register here and Jess DiLucia is still looking for sponsors. This is a tremendous fun-raiser and fundraiser, so I hope you can join us Saturday morning, May 12.
Home & School Board
I want to thank Rebecca Roe for the wonderful job she has done over the last two years leading us as Home & School President. Rebecca has been an excellent communicator and has worked very hard to keep our school strong. I am so grateful to her for her time and efforts. I would also like to thank our other outgoing board members who have served us so faithfully and well: Maria Mendler as treasurer; Lee Ann Leary as Advancement Team Liaison, Kristen Ciavarelli as Lower School Rep. For me it continues to be a pleasure and honor to work with our H&S Board. Our H&S Board is an integral part of the success of this school. Please join me in welcoming the board that is in place for next year and a special welcome to our new members:
2019/20 Home and School Board
President – Erin Buckley
Vice President – Kate Quinn
Treasurer – Jen Driscoll
Public Relations – Jason Griesser
Secretary – Katie Brogan
Upper School Rep – Linda Logan
Lower School Rep – Kate Schoettler
Advancement Team Rep – Jennifer DiMarino
New Family/Volunteer – Marie Stark
Faculty Representative – Mary DePetris
* The H&S President will serve for one year and is succeeded by the Vice President the following year
Yoga at Cabrini University Athletic Center
For the Miriam’s (Quigley) Kids Research Foundation for Pediatric Brain Cancer
On behalf of The Quigley Family join us on Saturday April 28th at 10 am in support of 7th Grade Teacher Alexandra Quigley’s family and to honor the memory of her sister, Miriam.
