Words cannot express the gratitude that I feel toward the entire Bishop Garrigan Community. Your overwhelming support for me during my struggle with cancer has kept my spirits high. For the quilt raffle, the soup supper benefit, and the many kindnesses from so many of you, I cannot thank you enough. Finally, your prayers have spoken for themselves as they touch my heart and strengthen me. May God bless each and every one of you!
- Chuck Stillman
There have been soooo many early dismissals and late starts that a review of our dismissal time may be helpful. When the announcement is made that Algona Community School is dismissing at 1:00, that means Seton is dismissing 15 minutes earlier, or at 12:45. Seton and Bishop Garrigan are ALWAYS 15 MINUTES EARLIER than the announced time. This included scheduled inservice days as well.
How important is a family plan for emergency changes in the school day? If your plan is to call the office each day we cannot guarantee that your child will receive the message in a timely fashion. There are only two lines into the building, and the office phones ring nonstop on those days. A family emergency plan that is in place creates a comfort level for your child(ren) and the teacher, knowing that each child will be safe and cared for.
Registration - The office is in the process of collecting names of prospective students for Early Childhood and Kindergarten for next year. We only have names of children baptized in the five parishes. If you know of child(ren) who were baptized in another parish or who have moved into our communities, please call the office to have a packet sent to them. We have found the names of several children who were baptized in our parishes omitted from the parish lists.
Kindergarten Round-Up - will be held during the regular preschool day for students already in our program. Papers will go home Wednesday, March 5, with teacher recommendations. Round-Up for students not currently enrolled in Seton's preschool will be held Wednesday afternoon, March 5, from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Current kindergarten students WILL be in attendance March 3, 4, and 5. Afternoon preschool students WILL be in attendance on Wednesday, March 7.
Kindergarten Parent Meeting - for parents of all students planning to attend kindergarten or kindergarten prep in 2008-2009 will be held Monday, March 3, 7:00pm in the Rochleau Center. Please call the office if you are unable to attend.
Three-Year-Old Preschool - applications are encouraged for the 2008 - 2009 school year for the half day and all day Tuesday-Thursday program for three-year-olds.
PAK Empowerment Tuition Grants - for 2008 - 2009 will be distributed in the very near future to preschool students whose names we have at this time. Prep (PreK5) scholarship forms will be distributed after Kindergarten Round-Up. Please return the information packets ASAP. The criteria are very similar to the past, with the exception of parent address, so that the PAK can mail further information directly to parents.
First Communion
Confirmation
There continue to be cell phone issues in the classrooms. A reminder about the cell phone policy. Cell phones are to be turned off and in the book bag in the hall lockers. Cell phones found to be ringing, vibrating, etc. on the person or in the classroom bag are confiscated and taken to the office. The first time, parents will need to pick up the phone. The second time, student will be required to turn phone in to the office in the morning and may pick it up at dismissal (or submit a note from parents that they no longer have a cell phone in school.) This is pretty standard procedure for most schools in the North Central Conference.
Rochleau Center Changes: With the changes to the security system, it is very possible and probable that there may be changes in gym usage before/after school and weekends along with non-school sponsored activities for both our students and the community. Please make note of this. There will be more information coming as policies are worked through.
There is no further information regarding the date that the buildings will be "keyed". Notes will go home before that happens, so you aren't taken off guard when it happens.
Spring PreK-12 parent/teacher conferences and system registration will be held the same evenings, Monday and Tuesday, March 17 and 18. The two events are combined to save parents an evening out. Please take time during the evening to register your students for next year on the STAGE in the Rochleau Center.
How are you coming on completing the forms for the Msgr. Lafferty Tuition Assistance? Please do not throw the forms away if you do not qualify. It is our hope that the process will be used to provide other funds to families whop do not qualify for these funds. This year the fund provided $50,000, next year $100,000, and the year after $150,000. It is Bishop Garrigan Schools' best effort to keep tuition down for the greatest number of families possible.
Projects developed by 7th and 8th grade students were on display at the Seton Educational Fair held on January 31. There was a wide variety of talent and topics shared with the public that evening. Seven students performed speeches, 4 presented history performances, and 9 held language arts projects that ranged from original stories to research on authors. Thirteen students chose to present history projects related to this year's theme, "Conflict and Compromise". Thrity-three students were involved in science, 10 in math, 6 in technology, 3 in art, 1 in music, and 7 had informational displays. Judges reviewed all projects, and the students were interviewed as well about their work. The evening was a culmination of several months of work for many of the students and a great part of Catholic Schools Week.
- Mrs. Phyllis Even
Enclosed with this newsletter you will find a final excerpt from the Annual Progress Report. Pages 16 and 19 list proficiency rates, ongoing performance on standardized and multiple assessments, and goals in science. Note especially the chart of percentile ranks (p. 16) and the number of students proficient at grades 8 and 11 (p. 19).
Anyone wishing to see the performance report in its entirety (including tables of figures detailing subgroup performance by gender and socio-economic status) is welcome to make an appointment with an administrator at either Seton or BGHS.
Self-giving takes many forms based on our own talents and personalities. Each of us has God-given gifts that we are called to share with others. Here are some tips for helping your children find and follow God's plan for their lives, and in so doing achieve true success:
One parent brags, "We follow all our lessons about money to the penny with our two children. Kraig and Kerry know not to spend any of their money without our presence and prior approval".
Another says, "What a great day! Kim forgot her lunch money today and had to beg off her friends. That's the second time this week! With all of these mistakes and consequences, she'll have a PhD in life by the time she graduates!"
Which child will be better prepared for a financial life full of wise decisions? I would bet on Kim.
The list below establishes a pattern of unaffordable and affordable mistakes around money. Which pattern do you want to establish with your children?
We can turn our children's mistakes into powerful learning opportunities simply by letting them experience the consequences of their mistakes. What are osme of the affordable mistakes your kids need to make today to avoid financial difficulties in the future?
- Mr. John Byrkeland