As the World Series returned to Kansas City for Games 6 and 7, the Annual Fund took a “7th inning stretch” to let everyone focus on cheering for our hometown team. We are back now with Week 3 of our 5-week campaign, and we are excited for everyone to join us for this important fundraising effort!
Click here to make your gift, pledge your support or learn more about the Annual Fund.
Going into Week 3, we are at 26% parent participation – our goal is 100%. If you have already made your gift or pledged your support, thank you! If you have not yet joined us in the Annual Fund, please consider making your gift or pledging your support this week. Gifts range from $10 to more than $10,000. Every gift counts.
Why is the Annual Fund so important? Each year, a gap exists between the cost of providing a St. Paul’s education and the revenue generated by tuition payments. For 2014-2015, our tuition gap is $1,209 per budgeted student ($571,727 of the overall budget). The Annual Fund is our most direct way to bridge the gap, and we are working together to meet two important goals: 1) $270,000 and 2) 100% parent participation.
You can learn more about the Annual Fund on our website, or by contacting the Development Office at development@speds.org.
2014 Fall Book Fair
The St. Paul's Book Fair is offering a vast assortment of books supplied by one of our favorite local children’s bookstores, The Reading Reptile. It also features extra activities in which you and your student may participant.
Book Fair Shopping Schedule
• Thursday, November 6 and Friday, November 7
Preschool through eighth graders will visit the book fair with their classrooms. Family members are welcome to join your child during their classroom shopping time. Find the classroom schedule at http://spedsnerstheimer.blogspot.com/
Students may purchase books with cash, or charge them to their St. Paul's account if they have the charge form signed by a parent.
Toddler Classes will join the Book Fair for special readings on Thursday and Friday, and are encouraged to bring a pal and their parent to join them.
Honor a Teacher with a Wish Book
Each teacher will have a list of Wish Books at the book fair. Teachers love receiving gifts for their classroom and the book fair provides an easy way to give a book on their wish list. Your gift will be acknowledged at the beginning of each book.
Purchase a Birthday Book
A Birthday Book is a gift certificate for the library. Mr. N. will select a book in honor of your student. The student gets to be the first to check out the book, and his or her name will be included at the beginning of the book.
Authors’ On Site!
We were excited to have local authors visiting this year during certain chapels and Family Night.
• Anola Pickett, a former school teacher and librarian, will join the 3rd through 5th grades during chapel on Monday, November 3. She is now an author of children's historical novels Whisper Island and Wasatch Summer, as well as other books for young readers. Whisper Island was named a finalist in Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Award.
• Jenny Whitehead, our own St. Paul’s preschool teacher, shared her published works to toddlers through 2nd grade during chapel on Tuesday, November 4. Jenny wrote and illustrated Lunch Box Mail and Holiday Stew, plus we can look forward to Jenny’s upcoming book, You're a Crab, which will be available in May.
• Michael Cangelosi, real-life firefighter and author, shared his book, Maxwell The Firehouse Mouse, with toddler through 2nd grade at ECC Chapel on Wednesday, November 5.
• Angela Cervantes, born and raised in Kansas City, shared her first novel, Gaby, Lost and Found, to 3rd through 5th grade during chapel on Wednesday, November 5. Her novel was named one of the best children's books of the year (2014 edition), by Bank Street College Center for Children's Literature (9-12 age group) and was the winner of the International Latino Book Award for best youth chapter fiction novel. In addition, Angela contributed the short story, Pork Chop Sandwiches to Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul.
Graffiti Project
Seventh Graders Go Melodramatic With Shakespeare
Seventh graders are using melodramatic expression and collaboration to get to the heart of Shakespeare’s whimsical romantic fantasy A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This popular 1596 classic grabs the attention of the middle schooler with fleeting love, mistaken identities, mischief, and even an influential magic flower. Throughout our study, students will utilize their melodramatic talents to bring the story to life. They will also collaborate on a series of critical thinking questions related to Shakespeare’s use of figurative language, characters, and multiple plots, all which will help to facilitate our “round table” discussions about the play. In the end, it’s sure to be a Shakespearean experience students will remember.
Life Skills in Action
Look what seventh graders are saying about their recent visit to the Tucker Leadership Lab and the various life skills they honed:
“The Tucker Leadership Lab was an incredible experience! The whole seventh-grade collaborated and worked together with perseverance and integrity.” -- Kimball G.
“I think we all learned that communication is really important when working in groups. It doesn't work when everyone talks at once, but if we all give everyone's idea the same amount of respect as anyone else's, we are able to accomplish a lot more. Everyone was forced to take initiative and step up to the plate for the team to be able to function.” -- Jackie B.
“The Tucker Leadership Lab was a great opportunity. I enjoyed learning about how to improve team building.” -- James S.
“We did the high ropes course and I enjoyed it the most because I had to conquer my fear of heights. I had to trust myself and my classmates that I could get across and it felt amazing when I got to the other side. What I took away from Tucker Leadership Lab is to communicate with my classmates and listen to their ideas.”
-- Greta H.
“I really liked the high ropes. Although it was scary at first, it was exciting! It was a great feeling to accomplish it.” -- Mollie D.
“At Tucker Leadership Lab, my favorite activity was when we walked on a high ropes course twenty-five feet off the ground. The life skill that we all worked on was courage. We all were courageous enough to walk across the ropes course and back.” -- Christoff H.
October Music Programs
We have had a busy month of wonderful music programs from the 6th grade, 5th grade and the 1st grade. Students showed off their talent by singing, dancing and playing musical instruments. Family and friends enjoyed each program with laughs and smiles!
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
Tuition Assistance Applications Accepted from November 1 – December 31, 2014
If you are planning to apply for
tuition assistance for the 2015-2016 school year, please note that the school’s
application is now open. You will be applying online, via FACTS Grant and
Assessment (the company that processes our applications).
Deadline: Current families must complete an online application and submit all necessary supporting documentation to FACTS by December 31, 2014. Note that an application is not considered complete until all supporting documentation has been received.
FACTS Account: If you applied for assistance last year, you should have an existing account in the FACTS system. If you are a new applicant for tuition assistance, you will need to create an account in FACTS, but your information will be retained from year to year.
If you did not apply for tuition assistance last year, are considering doing so for the 2015-2016 school year and would like to learn more, click here.
Deadline: Current families must complete an online application and submit all necessary supporting documentation to FACTS by December 31, 2014. Note that an application is not considered complete until all supporting documentation has been received.
FACTS Account: If you applied for assistance last year, you should have an existing account in the FACTS system. If you are a new applicant for tuition assistance, you will need to create an account in FACTS, but your information will be retained from year to year.
If you did not apply for tuition assistance last year, are considering doing so for the 2015-2016 school year and would like to learn more, click here.
Please click here
to begin the tuition assistance application process.
Remember that the
deadline for your application is December 31, 2014.
Calendar Notes
11/5-7 Book Fair
11/12 T-2nd grade Open House
11/14 Pre-Kindergarten Music Program
11/19 Wax Museum
11/26-28 Thanksgiving Break/NO SCHOOL
For the complete calendar, please click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment