January 9, 2015 Principal’s Notes Ss. Peter & Paul School
The students and faculty have jumped back into the routine following Christmas break. The New Year brings a new semester and a new quarter. Now is the perfect time to evaluate your child(ren)’s academic status. Students who have received failing grades in two subjects may be in danger of retention. Please contact the subject teachers for ways to improve. I will be meeting with the students individually to help create an academic plan.
I will also be checking attendance figures for the first semester. Illness is an unforeseen occurrence and students who are sick need to stay home to recover. However, prompt and regular attendance is important for academic success. Check the handbook for the school policy.
All financial accounts need to be current. Please check the handbook to refresh your memory of your financial obligations. Messages from the finance office will be forthcoming if you are delinquent. If something changes in your financial status, please call Vicki in the finance office. Thanks to all who are faithful in meeting their financial obligations.
I am reviewing all comments and suggestions following our first two virtual snow days. Thanks to all who sent constructive comments via Fast Direct, through the faculty and school board, and Facebook. (Although I don’t use Facebook, your comments always get relayed to me. As we instruct the students, nothing is private on the internet.) I will be putting out a survey soon to continue to gather information. This is a trial run and perfection was not expected. The faculty and I will have to tweak this to get it right. We have invested a lot of money in current and future technology. This is an attempt to use it to the fullest.
Once again, I’d like to thank all of you who sent Christmas gifts to the office staff and me. We certainly appreciate your generosity.
Kudos to:
Our 8th grade boys and girls hoopsters for their dedication and efforts.
The parents and coaches of our 8th grade basketball teams for the many sacrifices you have made to allow the students to enjoy sports.
SNOW DAYS
It is school policy that SSPP will close when Unit 10 closes for weather. Our Latchkey will not be open if the school is closed for snow and ice. We were able to open Latchkey this past week when school was closed for low temperatures. I know that unscheduled snow days can be an inconvenience and sometimes the forecast is inaccurate. Please listen to the School Reach message for any differences. I will also announce on Channels 5 and Fox2.
NEW STUDENTS
I am pleased to welcome four new students to our SSPP family. Adrian Shomali, a kindergartener, joined us just before Christmas break. Kieleigh Rapsilber joined the third grade here this semester. On Wednesday, we will have Shayla (7th) and Samuel (5th) Mercado transfer from Holy Family in Granite City. Please make them feel welcome.
A New Year Wish
May the New Year bring us:
Enough happiness to keep us sweet,
Enough trials to keep us strong,
Enough hope to keep us lively,
Enough sorrow to keep us dependent upon God,
Enough failure to keep us humble,
Enough success to keep us eager,
Enough friends to give us comfort,
Enough wealth to meet our needs,
Enough enthusiasm to keep us looking forward,
Enough faith to overcome despair,
Enough determination to use every day and every situation somehow for good.