Principal’s Pen – January 19, 2018

Catholic Schools Week is our time to celebrate the elements that make Catholic Schools great! We begin with the School Choir at 4:30 Mass on Saturday, January 27 to 10:30 Mass on Sunday, January 28, followed by School Open House and Pizza Party through to Trivia Night, Saturday, February 3. A fun-filled flyer will detail our events every day in-between!

Trivia Night Saturday February 3, doors open at 5:30. Trivia begins at 6:30 pm

Please support the upcoming Trivia Night to benefit our school.
Reserve a table: $100 for 8 players or $15 each person. See the flier in Friday Folder.
Volunteers Needed: Help sell raffle tickets during event, judge event, set-up (Friday 2/2), tear-down after event around 10:30 p.m.
Donate: Raffle items needed include baskets, items to add to baskets, Scrip gift cards, lottery tickets, etc.
Sponsor a round: Sponsor a round for $100 or donate toward your student’s class sponsorship of a round – $6/student.
Class contest – Earn points for supporting this event. Class with most points wins an ice cream party. All students with participation points receive a dress down pass for Thursday, Feb 15. Complete the form in Friday Folder.

Thank you to all who were able to attend our Strategic Planning Night on Thursday, January 18. Great ideas were generated and the School Council will complie and share them with you in a few weeks.

Congratulations to our 8th grade Girls Basketball Team for winning 2nd Place in the Conference tournament. Thank you to each of you girls and your coaches, Mr. Gary Wilson, Mr. Albert Walker and Mr. Ryan Klaas. We are so proud of you!

Congratulations to our Alumni Illinois State Scholars from Collinsville High School: Emily Falbe, Ryan McFarland, Hunter Schrage. We are proud of you too!

Christine Feller from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office will give a presentation to parents on Digital Safety Monday, January 22 from 7-8 pm at Fr. McGivney Catholic HS. She is two steps ahead of our kids – and miles ahead of most adults in the digital arena. If you can make time to connect with her presentation, you will not be sorry. I strongly encourage you to attend. We are working with Ms. Feller to arrange a presentation at our school in the spring for all of our students.

Please take another look at the State of Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Information that has been sent home and through Fast Direct. The deadline date has changed. Applications will open online Thursday, January 31 at Noon at Empowerillinois.org.

Read the Fast Direct letter sent today on behalf of Marvin Jansen, Parish Finance Manager, with all the details you need to apply.

Look at the eligibility guidelines and assemble the documents that you need to apply:
* Copy of 2016 federal tax return, 1099, W-2 or year-end pay stubs
* Verification of Illinois residence (utility bill, driver’s license, etc.)
* Documentation of student’s age (birth certificate, federal/state ID or passport)
*Student’s prior semester Report card
* Approved Registration form . This form was sent as an attachment today with Marvin Jansen’s letter on Fast Direct. Complete the form, send it to school, I will sign it and send it back electronically to you so you can upload it to the application site on January 31.

If you do not have access to a scanner, call the school or parish office to arrange to bring in your documents and a flash drive. We will scan your documents to your drive so you can upload them with your application. Sign up now on empowerillinois.org to receive updates or call the school office with questions.

Monies are waiting to be distributed – and it is First Come, First Served.

Thank you, Josh Mark, our Senior Service worker from Althoff HS. We enjoyed having you with us these past three weeks. Thank you for your service!

In the event school is cancelled due to the ice/road conditions, parents will be notified by the School Messenger system . Closings will also be posted on KMOV-Channel 4 and KSDK – Channel 5 as “SS Peter and Paul Catholic School – Collinsville.” On very cold days we will have indoor recess in the gym and/or classrooms. Please make sure your child has hood/hat, gloves, scarf or whatever they need for their personal comfort.

Make disciples of all nations. The Lord calls us to reach out. Serving fellow parishioners after Mass on Sunday is a perfect way to give service to the Church. Two or three parents (children can help too!) are asked to give a few minutes for set up before Mass and about 20-30 minutes after Mass. Liz Dalton will fill you in with details. Thank you to those who have contacted the school office to help. You are true Servant Leaders!

Our January character trait of the month is Service. How can we be of service to others? How can we be Servant Leaders as Jesus calls us to be?

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Blessings,

Peg Bodinet
Principal