Thanks to Mr. Dave Burrow at Bishop Garrigan, for your convenience the Bishop Garrigan Schools newsletters will be placed online. We are very excited about this prospect. You will be able to get the newsletter quickly, and it will save us many man hours, postage, paper, and ink expenses. For awhile we will continue to send the newsletters by mail. It is our near future plan to only send the newsletter to those who do not have access to the internet. We will send a note home asking who does not have access to the web. It would be a good idea to practice accessing the newsletters online. They can be found at http://garrigan.unlimitedweb.net .
The first round of PAK scholarships have been issued. Parents in this first round have received survey forms to complete before funds can be released. After this stage is completed, then the PAK will release phase 2--which is determined by the amount of money remaining. Please get your surveys turned in to me asap.
Every other year the Diocese of Sioux City holds a Ministries Conference for teachers of the diocese. This year the conference will be held September 23 and 24 at the Clay County Regional Center in Spencer. The theme is "The Eucharist: The Community and the Mission of the Church". More information can be found in the BGHS newsletter. There will be no school on September 24 at any level so that teachers may attend the conference.
The uniform exchange was a success again this year. Please pick up your money envelope and leftover uniforms in the Seton office. Any items not picked up by Friday, September 7, will be donated to Exceptional Treasures. There was a question asked as to whether the uniform exchange could be earlier. Staff isn't in school until August, and the building is still undergoing the cleaning process. If you find that you buy uniforms then find some at the exchange, save your receipts and return your purchased items that you do not need. Do not rely on the exchange to supply you with all of your uniform items.
This is the second year for the Bishop Garrigan Wellness Plan. Teachers request healthy snacks for birthdays and snacks. Please do not send cape or cupcakes to school--the mess is uncontrollable. As of now our new preschoolers/kindergartners may continue to bring homemade snacks/treats, but they need to be wrapped for each child. There are exceptions like fruits and vegetables, cheese, etc. We will continue this practice until the law prohibits it or until there are problems for the classrooms.
The new security system for Seton is moving right along. The wiring will soon be run, and the system is projected to be up and running by mid October. At that time after 8:20am (8:30 for preschool and den), Seton will be locked down. Admission will be with a buzzer at the north door.
We are still collecting trash--Big G coupons, Campbells points/labels, and Pizza Ranch box tags. The product lines from Big G and Campbells continue to expand. Watch lots of products (Ziploc bags, etc.). Campbells has 5-point labels on many of their products for us to collect. Thanks to your vigalence each year we make more money off these programs. We will have a Big G collection October 8 - 12.
Our K-6 reading series is Scott Foresman. On the internet you can go to the "search" rectangle and type in Scott Foresman Reading, and you will find the website. From there you will have two choices:
Some of our textbooks have websites to parents that will assist students learning:
Hy-Vee grocery store is offering "Smiles for Education" and providing money to schools in Hy-Vee's area. Students and our school may be signed up at our local Hy-Vee store. Students and Seton could win a laptop computer or $5000 if our names are drawn. Each week 10 students' names are drawn for a total of 100 at the end of the program.
Lead Test: Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, all students kindergarten and under are required by law to have a lead test, which is a blood draw test. A document with the test date will be required. You may get the test now to avoid the rush.
Dental: A new law requires that begining with the 2008-2009 school year, all children 6 and under must have a dental exam, just as they now have immunizations. Most students enter school having already visited the dentist, but we wanted to make you aware of the new law so that you are able to plan ahead.
As required by law, informing parents and students that school authorities will, without notice or a search warrant, search a student, student lockers, desks, work areas, book and duffel bags, or clothing based on reasonable suspicion under the circumstances and in a manner reasonable in scope to maintain order and discipline in the school, promote the educational environment, and protect the safety and welfare of students and school personnel. School authorities may also seize illegal, unauthorized, or contraband materials discovered in the search. Items of contraband may include, but are not limited to, non-prescription controlled substances such as marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, apparatus used for the administration of controlled substances, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, weapons, explosives, poisons, and stolen property. Possession of such items will be grounds for disciplinary action.
(Public Conduct on School Premises)
INDIVIDUALS DISRUPTING
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
WILL BE ASKED
TO LEAVE THE
SCHOOL GROUNDS
TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY.
(Iowa High School Boys & Girls Athletic Unions)