Dear Parents and Guardians,
Lent has begun, starting with Ash Wednesday last week. This Sunday, March 13 marks the first day of our Marian Consecration. It will culminate on May 11, the same day as our May Crowning, led by the 8th graders.
Read Across America Week was a great celebration of literacy across the country. Thank you to all our teachers for making the week fun and memorable for our students. We want to thank all the parents who volunteered to read aloud as well!
As I mentioned last week, Traffic Guard volunteers are needed at the carline and crosswalk for AM and PM duty during drop off and dismissal. Thanks to all who answered the call to help! We ask that all volunteers on campus working with children are ADLA fingerprinted, Virtus-trained (with current certification) and vaccinated.
I’d like to say a special thank you to Claudia Guzman and Priscilla Ortiz, our Interior Maintenance PLC Chairs, as well as our parent volunteers who are coming to clean the school this weekend. We appreciate you! The next opportunity to earn service hours is on Saturday, 3/12 from 12:30-3:30pm. Thank you to all our parent volunteers who help keep our school clean!
In planning for next year, please email me if you are interested in being a lead for any of our Parent Leadership Committees (PLCs). Our children’s school experience is directly related to the level of involvement of our families. We have been blessed to have supportive parents over the years. Some leads will have their children graduating this year and we need more parents to lead for the coming year. Please remember that the leads may reach out to committee members, but it is each parents’ responsibility to respond so they can earn their family’s 30 service hours. Throughout the year, we always send emails re: opportunities to earn hours by volunteering or donating gift cards for school needs. If you choose this route, please buy Scrip through the school and donate the gift cards so you can earn double credit.
The 2nd trimester ended last Friday, March 4. Our 2nd Trimester Awards Ceremony will be held in the church this Friday, 3/11 after the 8am Mass. Our Stations of the Cross is held every Friday during Lent at school. Last week we had the whole school in the Hall together.
Our Talent Show is on Zoom this Thursday, 3/10 from 1-3pm. Thank you to Mrs. Garcia for coordinating this year’s show for us and to all our talented participants who submitted a video!
You may have seen the email from our ADLA Superintendent Paul Escala. Please note that starting March 12, masks are strongly recommended. Next week is the last week masks are required indoors. If you or your child want to continue to wear your mask for extra protection you may do so. If you have not been vaccinated or you have not had Omicron (COVID in the last 90 days), this may be a good idea.
At St. Anthony’s we love your kids as if they are our own. As we continue to work together to educate the “whole child,” we thank you for being active partners in education with us. Every day I see firsthand the way our dedicated faculty and staff work long hours, to ensure the best education possible here at St. Anthony’s. Catholic education is truly a vocation and a ministry, and I am aware of all the other choice sand career opportunities available to our well-educated and experienced staff. Please be sure to thank our faculty and staff and show your appreciation to them for the selfless work they do for our children every day. I certainly appreciate each of them for their dedication and professionalism.
Mrs. Grey, Principal
SCHOOL CALENDAR 2021-2022
(Be sure to always check www.stanthonygardena.org and your child’s teacher’s blog, along with our SAP School app for the most current information.)
- March 10: Talent Show (Mrs. Garcia has sent more info about video submission due dates)
- March 11: Second Trimester Mass and Awards Ceremony in the Church
- March 17: St. Patrick’s Day wear green shirts
- March 18-20: Catalina Trip for 8th grade (Mrs. Navia and Mrs. Dyogi chaperoning)
- March 21: Faculty and Staff Retreat, Student Free Day No School
- March 24: Spring Picture Day (only students purchasing pictures may come in Free Dress)
- March 28: First Reconciliation for 2nd graders in the evening in Church
- April 4 and May 23: School Lenten Penance Service starting at 8:45 grades 2-5, 10:15-12 grades 6-8
- April 6: All School Spelling Bee
- April 14: Holy Thursday Noon Dismissal (grade level retreats)
- April 15: Good Friday NO SCHOOL, Easter Break begins
- April 16-25: Easter Break
- April 25: School Resumes
- April 25-29: 7th and 8th grade trip to Washington DC (Sr. Tho and Mrs. Navia chaperoning)
- April 26: Progress reports go home for the 3rd trimester
- April 27: 8th Grade Graduation Pictures (Keys Photography) Tentative, subject to change
- April 30: First Holy Communion for school children (2nd graders)
- May 4: 3rd and Final Mandatory General Parent Meeting ($50 fine for non-participation, must attend the whole meeting)
- May 11: May Crowning and last day of All School Marian Consecration
SCRIP
One easy way to help you reach your $500 financial commitment is to purchase Scrip throughout the year. We accept credit cards in the office for your orders making it easier than ever! It’s basically buying gift cards to purchase things like groceries, gas, gifts, or things you need and want on a daily basis, but you can get fundraising credit for a portion of every gift card you buy! Work smarter, not harder! We have Scrip for Starbucks, Vons, Albertsons, Sam’s Club, Home Depot, Gardena Supermarket, and so much more.
SCHOOL DONATIONS AND SERVICE HOURS THROUGH INTERIOR MAINTENANCE
For families looking to pay off their service hour commitment 10 per trimester (30 for the year), our school gives the option to buy Scrip/gift cards and donate them to SAP. We buy a lot of materials and supplies from Office Depot, Walmart/Sam’s Club, and Target for much needed supplies, so if you buy Scrip valued at $10/hour and donate it to the school to offset costs, we will credit your service hour account. (Next year our service hours will be worth $15/hr. to keep up with the minimum wage.) Parents who volunteer on Saturdays can earn service hours cleaning our school with the Interior Maintenance PLC. Please join the group. Thanks in advance! The next few Saturdays are March 12, March 26, April 2, April 9, May 7, and May 21.
RALPH’S AND FOOD 4 LESS COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM
Just a reminder that our school is a member of the Community Rewards Programs for both Ralphs and Food 4 Less stores. For the Ralphs & the Food 4 Less Programs, you can opt in for the Community Rewards Program using your Ralphs or Food 4 Less Club Card. Please note that there is a different enrollment code for each of these stores. It is very important that you register the cards as soon as possible prior to the next time you use them, or the school will not receive benefits. Then please have the cashier scan the card or enter your ALT ID every time you make a purchase at Ralphs or Food 4 Less and we will receive a small percentage of each sale! We invite any parents or guardians who shop at Food 4 Less or Ralphs, even occasionally, to consider enrolling as this is an easy way to benefit the school without it costing you anything extra. We thank you in advance for your participation and thoughtfulness!
EARN ONE SERVICE HOUR FROM HOME!
Parents who review our school online on Yelp, Google, AND greatschools.org will earn up to one service hour after you send me your screenshots of all 3 sites as proof: to agrey@stanthonygardena.org.
ON-CAMPUS PRIVATE TOURS AVAILABLE
I have been conducting private tours and scheduling meetings with prospective families this month. If someone you know would like to schedule a tour on campus with me, please contact me at agrey@stanthonygardena.org. Don’t forget our referral incentives! You can earn up to $150 in Scrip or have it credited toward your tuition. Ask me how!
St. Anthony of Padua – Pray for us
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