From the Desk of Sr. Judith ...

     

Dear Parents & Students of SHPS,

I hope you have been enjoying your summer vacation and as the weeks fly by, I am hopeful that our students are enriching themselves through reading and mathematics to prevent “summer learning loss” so they can begin the school year on a very positive note.  As always, I am looking forward to another year with you as we work, and pray and learn together.    Together we will continue the tradition of excellence here at Sacred Heart Private School – a tradition that makes all of us known and respected.

Our theme for the coming school year will be “Let the Light of Christ Shine Through You.”  As members of the Sacred Heart Private School Community – a community sponsored by the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – we have a special devotion to the Heart of Jesus.  He is the center of our prayer; at our Enthronement of the Sacred Heart celebration each year, we place Him as the King & Center of our hearts.  Therefore, as people so richly blessed by the Love of the Heart of Jesus, I ask that all of us take as our responsibility the mission of spreading this love of God, as symbolized by the Heart of Jesus, to others.  We are to let Christ’s light shine in and through us so that all people we meet will see Christ in our words and actions, especially when we are understanding, compassionate, kind and generous.  I came across this quote, “The closer we are to the source of the Light, the brighter the light appears.  So, the closer we are to Christ, the more light you will have to give.”  Let our goal be to remain close to Christ so that we may light the way for others.

We have many exciting enrichment activities planned for this coming school year.  I am pleased to let you know that we will be introducing an instrumental music program for students in Grades 3-8 through the Paul Effman Music Service at an assembly planned for September 17th.  Please take note of the description of this program in this packet.  By spring of 2008 we hope to have a performance by our SHPS Band depending upon the number of students enrolled (15 minimum.)  In conjunction with the “fine arts,”   part of my “wish list” at this time is to find a volunteer who plays the piano to accompany our choir during weekly rehearsals and performances.  If you know anyone, please send them my way.
 

Included in this mailing is some important information for parents:
 

Revised Family Handbook for 2006 – 2007:

  • The Archdiocese of New York has given us revisions for Parent/Student Handbook; therefore, we found it necessary to revise our Family Handbook.  I am sending this to you now so that you and your youngster can add it to your “summer reading list.”  It is important that you know what you agree to when you register your child at SHPS.
     

  • Included also is the Family Handbook Signature page.  You and students in Grade 2 and up are asked to sign this page and it must be returned at Orientation on September 5th or 6th
 

Tuition
 Before your child enters in September, the July and August payment to SMART must be received at the ban.  If you have not taken care of this yet, please do so by August 10th.

Supplies
 We are requiring that all school textbooks be covered with stretch fabric covers as we have been doing for the past few years.  Many of our students may have brought the covers from last year home to be washed last June.  We will be selling new covers at back-to-school orientation for $3.50 each.  This will eliminate sending home all the books the first week of school.  During the course of the year, if your child is missing a cover, he/she will be given a cloth cover and you will be responsible for payment.  If you wish to purchase these types of covers elsewhere, we have no objection!

Included in this mailing is a list of supplies that each child needs for school.  Some must be purchased at school; others should be purchased by you.  Please check the lists carefully.  Please complete the order form and return it on Back-to-School Orientation in a labeled envelope with payment.

Back Packs are important and we encourage you to invest the money to get one that is sturdy and also safe for your child.  Research indicates that backpacks with a waist belt are more comfortable and distribute the weight in the packs better.  All book packs must be solid color or two-tone colors.  No designs or logos are acceptable on backpacks.  Backpacks with wheels are not permitted.  Students entering school with any of these non-permitted items will be required to purchase a new backpack.

As before, we suggest that every family have a set of school supplies at home.  Paper, pens (for the older students), construction paper, markers, scissors, crayons, and glue are essential.
 

Uniform: 
Flynn & O’Hara Uniform Company continues to provide our school uniform.  Please review the enclosed SPHS Dress Code as you prepare for back-to-school.  When you go to Flynn & O’Hara be sure you tell them you are from Sacred Heart Private School and look for the Flynn & O’Hara label on the items.

All students must wear the same style of shoe as carried by Carousel Shoe Store and displayed on our website.  Although shoes do not have to be purchased at this store, all shoes must be extremely similar to these shoes since the school shoe is considered uniform.  Girls in grades PreK – 1 must wear the buckle or Velcro strap shoe.  Boys in PreK must wear the buckle or Velcro strap shoe. Girls in Gr. 2 & 3 have the option of wearing the Velcro strap or buckle type shoe.  Girls in Gr. 4 – 8 and all boys in Grades K - 8 must wear the tie shoe.  Once again, the shoe must be extremely similar in style to the shoe supplied by Carousel Shoe Store and displayed on our website. 

Calendar
 Enclosed is the general school calendar which provides an overview of the school year to help you with long range planning.  Realistically I know that there may be changes to the calendar because of weather or other circumstances and I will make every effort to keep those changes to a minimum and to inform you as soon as possible when there is a calendar adjustment.  In September you will be provided a more detailed yearly calendar and as always, I will also issue a monthly calendar as the most accurate source of information. 

This mailing includes the schedule for the first week of school.  Please be sure to read it carefully and mark these special dates and times on your calendar.  Orientation Days are mandatory and are counted as a day absent.  If your child is not present and absent note must be brought to school on the first day your child attends.  All of us look forward to welcoming you to a very promising school year.
 		  

Forms Due 
 To make things move quickly on Orientation Day we are including a few of the forms that you usually complete at school on that day.  I ask that you and your children take time to complete them at home before you come so you can just hand them in that day.  I’ve even given you an Orientation Day Checklist for you to use before you come in September.  The forms you need to complete are:

                Please bring these completed forms with you to Orientation Day.

We will continue with our Thursday Packet tradition as the main source of important information for you and your family.  I know with your hectic family schedules, it is easy for the packet to get "buried"; however, I do ask you to make it a priority to read the packet sometime before "midnight" on Thursday!   You could be "left out", if you don't!

I hope you and your children, in addition to vacationing, are reading together!  The “family that reads together, learns together!”  Learning is certainly a life-long process.  Know of my prayers for you through the rest of your summer vacation. May God guide you and keep you safe.

 If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at school after August 15th. I look forward to welcoming you back to another year of spiritual and academic growth. 

Sincerely

Sr. Judith Musco, ASCJ, Principal