1. education
2. school

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School
Est. 2001
Rev. Tom Rafferty
Pastor
Reneé B. Nunez
Principal
Susan Leddy
Assistant Principal
Kendall Shamas
Dean of Middle
School & Auxiliary
FEBRUARY 4, 2015
Dear School Families,
Our celebration of National Catholic Schools Week was wonderful. We thank everyone for joining us for
our celebration. From the opening liturgy on Sunday to the week filled with activities and events, it was a huge
success. We had a very successful Open House last week. The Fellowship Hall was filled with prospective families.
Thank you to our staff, students, PTO, and families for the tremendous amount of dedication and work that went
into making the week a success and a lot of fun.
Our discipleship message this week focuses on community, which was part of the theme for our
celebration of National Catholic Schools Week. We know that discipleship flourishes in community. When we feel
like we are part of a community we honor the ideas, values, and ideals of the community. We show our belonging
in our words and actions. We are connected to the common good and a common purpose. We are bound by relationships, shared values, and what it means to be members of SAOPCS. We work every day to build our community
through relationships with one another, participating in classrooms, school-wide programs and activities, and making a culture of discipleship our goal. Thank you for working with us to reach that same goal.
Returning family registration was strong for ‘15-‘16 with 90% of our seats already filled for next year.
New student registration opened on Monday with some of our elementary and middle school classes already closed
and wait lists started. Spring Conferences are next week. We look forward to having parents on campus for those.
Don’t forget about STEPS for Students. We want to have a strong representation from our school at this
Archdiocesan event. All of the proceeds we raise this year will help support Camp Kappe. Raffle tickets for this
year’s Auction Gala were sent home last week. Ticket stubs and money for the first class prize are due on Friday,
February 13th. The first class prize is a movie, popcorn and a free dress day. Remember each family that sells all 25
raffle tickets by March 13th will have their name entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $500 Visa gift card.
That could come in handy for Spring Break! Have a great week!
Sincerely in Christ,
Reneé B. Nunez
Susan Leddy
Kendall Shamas
th
Principal
Assistant Principal, PreK-5
Dean of Middle School
IOWA & COGAT TESTING
VISION STATEMENT
The vision of St.
Anthony of Padua
Catholic School is to
guide the mind, body,
and spirit of the next
generation of Catholic
leaders to live the
Gospel of Jesus Christ
and to meet their full
potential as people
created in the image
of God.
On Tuesdays through Thursdays during the
weeks of February 23rd and March 2nd,
students in 1st through 8th grades will be
taking the IOWA Assessments. Students in 1st
through 7th grades will also be taking the
CogAT. We will not test on Monday and Friday
of these weeks. Instead, we will use these days
to review skills and concepts for the sub-tests.
Please do not schedule any appointments
during testing days and be sure your child
arrives to school on time. Students must be in
class by 8:00 AM. Anyone who arrives after
8:00 will be asked to leave and return at 10:30.
We do not want to disrupt the testing
environment for our students. Thank you in
advance for your cooperation and support.
PTO is looking for co-chairs for the Go Texan Day
committee. If you’re interested, contact Christine
Motsenbocker at [email protected].
Go Texan Day is on March 11.
Excellence...Strengthened by Faith!
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School
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JANUARY WRITING TEAM
Congratulations to the following students for
being named to the January Writing Team:
1st grade Sofia Cruz, Anderson Dufrene, Luke
Podowski,
Sarah Boyd, Sophia Colletti, Jack Janiszewski,
Lucas Lawrence, Rex McKeig, Luke Parsons,
Ryan Schmittauer
2nd grade James Bollinger, Marissa Miller, Shane
O’Hare, Spencer Whatley
3rd grade Katie Dickinson, Alondra Martinez, Mitchell
Brauweiler, Nita Kuttarappallil, Marlon
Olivier, Caiden Villaver, Ivy Watts
4th grade Ryan Leslie, Sawyer Watts
5th grade Hannah Bernardo, Addison Janiszewski
6th Grade Elizabeth Meyer, Sophia Pappas
7th Grade Alaina Filley, Connor Davis
8th Grade Josh Lafleur, Keeley Wooddell
Keep up the great writing!
VALENTINE EXCHANGES
Students can exchange valentines on Thursday,
February 12th. Valentines should be included
for every student in your child’s class. It is not
necessary to address them. Simply have your
child sign a valentine for each child in their class
and bring them to school on the day of the
exchange. A single, small piece of candy may be
attached to the valentine. Please do not send
additional candy or favors. Exchanges will be
done in the classrooms as part of their day.
There are no classroom parties for Valentine’s
Day.
Great things are happening inside and outside our classrooms...
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School
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OPPORTUNITY TO SELL RAFFLE TICKETS
Do not miss out on the opportunity to sell Gala raffle
tickets after Mass this weekend—Saturday, 2/7 and Sunday, 2/8. Sign up on VOLUNTEER SPOT—one spot per
family!
Thu, 2/5
Fri, 2/6
YEARBOOKS FOR SALE DURING SPRING
CONFERENCES
Sat-Sun
Sun, 2/8
Yearbooks will be sold during spring conferences on February 12
and 13 for $45.00 (cash or check orders only). Mr. Mattern will
have a table set up in the front office. Yearbooks can still be
purchased online at www.balfour.com (credit card orders
only—a $1 fee will be assessed).
Mon, 2/9
Wed, 2/11
Ads may also be purchased from Mr. Mattern at this time.
If you’re interested—hurry! There are only a few spots
left.
Thu, 2/12
2015-2016 REGISTRATION
2015-2016 Acceptance Packets for returning families will
be sent home on February 11. Please return all paperwork by Friday, February 20 in order for placement to
be confirmed for the 2015-2016 school year. Families
with an additional sibling applying to SAOPCS will
receive their Acceptance Packet after new student
screening.
Fri, 2/13
New Student Registration:
Ends February 11, 2015
Sat, 2/14
New Student Applicant Screening Day:
February 21, 2015
Mon, 2/16
Decisions Letters Mailed:
March 13, 2015
Tue, 2/17
TUITION GRANT INFORMATION FOR
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
If you are seeking tuition grants for the 20152016 school year please contact Cathy Russell at
[email protected] for information on how to
apply. The St. Anthony of Padua Tuition Grant Program
application deadline is March 31, 2015.
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School
Banking Day, 7:40-8:15 AM, School Lobby
PTO Rosary (Prayed in Spanish), 2;30 PM
Jr. Master Gardener (K-2nd), 3:45-5:00 PM
Mass (5A), 9:00 AM
MS Spring Social, 6:30-8:30 PM, Gym
2nd Collection for School Fund at All Sunday
Liturgies
Steps for Students—Online Registration Closes at
11:00 PM
PTO Rosary, 8:15 AM
3rd Quarter Progress Reports Go Home, 1-8
PreK Pajama Day—Auction Gala Principal of the Day
Proclamation
Registration Closes for New Students
Strategic Planning Committee Meeting, 11:30 AM1:00 PM, AMR
Spring Conferences (PM)—EARLY RELEASE-PreK
AM dismissal at 10:30; PreK PM arrives at
11:30 AM; dismissals at 2:15 PM for PreK-3rd
grade; and 2:30 PM for 4th-8th grade; BAASP
closes at 6:30 PM
Love & Logic Session, 12:00-2:00 PM, PLB Room 204
PTO Rosary (Prayed in Spanish), 1:30 PM
PTO-Sponsored Staff Appreciation (Snacks Only),
2:30-3:30 PM, Office Suite
Booster Club Meeting, 6:00-7:00 PM, PLB Room 203
Spring Conferences (AM) and Staff Development
(PM) - No Classes and BAASP CLOSED
PTO-Sponsored Staff Appreciation (Snacks Only),
7:00-8:00 AM, Office Suite
Steps for Students—Individual Packet Pick-Up, 10:30
AM-6:30 PM, Fleet Feet Sports—6590
Woodway, Houston 77057
NO CLASSES, BAASP CLOSED—Regional Staff
Development Day Hosted by SAOPCS
PreK Mardi Gras Parade, 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM
2015 STANDARDIZED TESTING DATES
We need everyone here!
February 24-26 and March 3-5
Make-Ups will be during the week of March 9th
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The character trait for February is Cooperation (Teamwork
& Helping). Cooperation means working together, getting
along and working as a team. Cooperation is all about helping others and interacting with people in a way that helps
everyone to succeed.
The social skills for February are How to work with others
and how to accept and give a compliment.
Important Dates for February:

Our Love and Logic Parent Training series continues.
The course will conclude on Thursday, February 19th.
 Iowa/CogAt testing starts on Tuesday, February 24, and
goes through Thursday, March 5. Please note: There
will be no testing on Monday, February 23; Friday, February 27; Monday, March 2; or Friday, March 6.
How your child can prepare for the IOWA and CogAt
A student who is well-rested and well-fed and has a positive
attitude about testing will be best prepared. You can help
your student do his or her best by considering these tips:




ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION
2014-2015 SCHEDULE
First Eucharist Schedule
“Tour of the Church” - For Parent and Child to learn
more about the church and to have the opportunity to
practice receiving communion.
Mon., 2/9/15 6:00-7:30 PM
Wed., 2/11/15 5:00-6:30 PM
Last name A-K
Last Name L-Z
Make sure your child is in school and on time on test
days. Reschedule any appointments on non-testing
days.
Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and eats
a healthy breakfast before each day of testing.
Remind your student that these tests are only one part
of the school day. Emphasize that you have confidence
in his or her ability to do the best job possible.
Remind your child to listen carefully to the directions
and to each question as it is read aloud during testing.
Encourage your child to ask the teacher for help if he or
she does not understand the directions.
LOVE AND LOGIC PARENT TRAINING
Our Love and Logic Parent Training began January 15th. It is
six weeks long and is held every Thursday in PLB Room 204,
concluding Thursday, February 19th. It’s not too late to sign
up. If you’re interested, please contact Janay O’Connor,
School Counselor at [email protected] or (832) 482-4168.
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School
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