MEMORANDUM

TO:       Parents of Queen of Peace Catholic Academy

FROM:  Sister Nancy Elder, IHM

DATE:   February 19, 2010

RE:       Weekly Update

On Ash Wednesday, we began the season of Lent with the tradition of receiving ashes.  How great it was to experience a special Prayer Service with Father Jeff, Father Kaz and Father Jerry.  The students had previously reflected on what they might do and what they might “give up” during this time.  This made them ready for Father Jeff‘s inquiries and they eagerly shared their desires to be nice to others, to avoid cookies and ice cream, and to remember to say their prayers.  As in the past, our pastor was anxious to share his great sacrifice of avoiding lima beans!    Wanting to be a part of this, Father Jerry asked the students what he could do for them and one student replied, “Can you make us happy?”.

True to who they are, the children went right to the core of Lent in wanting to know what brings happiness.  Is happiness doing less or giving more?  Is happiness found in prayer or in good works?  Is happiness wrapped in talents and in sharing?  Can one make another happy?  Where does happiness come from?

Without doubt, these are questions which have been asked, pondered and written about for ages.  We all seek happiness and, often, would like to sidestep the way toward it.  Sometimes we reach out to others or to a better or different job or to increased structure or discipline. We seek and seek and seek.  Sometimes, we avoid going deep within because it may be scary there, even though we have been told that true happiness lies in the recesses of our being.  And so, like the young boy, we continue to look to others to make us happy even though we know that cannot happen.

This Lent is a good time to reflect deeply on that word, “happiness”.  It is a good time to go within and without at the same time.  It is a good time to put a smile on our face and a lilt in our step and a ready greeting to those we meet.  It is a good time to take advantage of all our God moments and God’s gifts.  It is a good time to be on God’s team.  It is a good time to be happy – for surely, God is good – all the time!

We Believe 

 

Reminders and Other Things

• Additional volunteers are still needed for the lunchroom, especially on Wednesdays and Fridays.  Please contact Barbara Henault to join this wonderful group of volunteers!
• The Parent Meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 25th has been cancelled!
• We have some openings in PreK and Grade 2 for next year.  Please keep this in your thoughts and prayers and do encourage any interested parents to call Darlene.
• The Reconciliation dates for students in Grades 3 – 8 have been changed.  Students in Grades 3, 4, 5 will receive Reconciliation on March 10th; Grades 6, 7, 8 on March 17th.  Please assist in preparing your child(ren) for this sacrament.
• Thursday, March 4th is the end of the Third Quarter.  Now is the time for students to make sure all their work is current!  We will have early dismissal on that day.
• Friday, March 5th is a Diocesan Teacher Day to be held in Jacksonville.  There will be no school on that day or on Monday, March 8th.

 

Fees and Tuition – 2010 - 2011

            Registration       $225 per student

            Book Fees        $425 per student

            Tuition               $3,900 – Catholics

                                    $5,700 – all others

  

K-5th Grade Soccer Registration

Only two more weeks to turn in your K/5 soccer registration, as the deadline is March 1st.

It is time to start thinking about spring soccer, as basketball is coming to an end in mid-Feb., spring soccer will start up in March. Soccer registration is beginning now for QPA students in grades K-5th grade. QPA will participate in the YMCA soccer league this season. The registration deadline is March 1st and late registrations will not be accepted after March 1st. Because of this new policy it is very important that you turn your registration forms in now. After March 1st it will be too late.

Registration forms can be found at the YMCA website www.ncfymca.org under sports, or at the QPA website. The program needs and information regarding the spring soccer season are below.

 

Sports Program Needs and Information:

#1 We have no coaches yet so we NEED coaches:  three (3) K/1 coaches, three (3) 2/3 coaches, and two (2) 4/5 coaches.  A coaches meeting will be held in March and details regarding date and time are TBD,

If you are interested in being a coach, or have questions, please email Sally Wasik, sjwasik@cox.net.  Coaches who work with the children need to have been fingerprinted (Diocese of St. Augustine, Administrators’ Manual 300.34), and are required to attend the Protecting God's Children class. Both the fingerprinting and the class need to occur before the season starts. Go to www.virtus.org to find a class near you and register if you have not done so already.

Coaches receive a 50% discount off the registration fee for their child.

#2 We are always looking for team sponsors. Team Sponsorship is $300 and the money goes directly to QPA's K -5th sports program. If you are interested in sponsoring a school team email Sally Wasik, sjwasik@cox.net for the form.  If you sponsor a team you will receive your name or your company name on the back of the uniform shirts, and a sponsor plaque with team picture, and a spot for one child on the team at no cost.

 

From Coach Davis:

 We are in need of a Golf Coach for the Academy students who are interested in this sport.  Please contact Ron Davis to volunteer.  He may be reached at 359-8179 (cell); 332-8808 (Academy); 472-6727 (home).

 

From Sherri Cousins:

The 2009-2010 Queen of Peace Saints sports banquet is coming up in April and we'd like to get a committee formed to help in organizing it. The banquet will be on April 23rd so get it on your calendars. This banquet is for Queen of Peace Academy Saints sports teams, not the YMCA teams. If you are interested in helping with the planning, please email Sherri Cousins at lilysmom2@cox.net. We will not have "sit down meetings"... we can do all the planning via email and phone so it will not take up too much of your time.  Thanks so much and.... GO SAINTS!

If anyone is interested in sponsoring this event you can email Sherri also.

 

Upcoming Home Athletic Events - St. Francis Catholic High School - Feb. 22-26                                 

Home Events:

Monday: Feb. 22:                       Girls Tennis vs GHS at Northside Park     3:30 PM

Tuesday: Feb. 23:                      Varsity Baseball vs Bronson                   4:00 PM

                                                Softball vs Hawthorne                             4:00 PM           

Wednesday: Feb. 24:                 Boys & Girls Tennis vs Circle Christian

                                                at Northside Park                                   1:30 PM

Thursday:  Feb. 25:                    Softball vs Trenton                                  4:00 PM

                                                Boys & Girls Tennis vs Suwannee

                                                At Northside Park                                  3:30 PM           

Home Tennis is not played at St. Francis Catholic High School- see schedule for location.

Other SFCHS games being played locally:

Tuesday: Feb 23:                       JV Baseball at Countryside Christian       4:00 PM

Friday: Feb. 26:                         JV Baseball at PK Yonge                       4:00 PM

                                                Varsity Baseball at PK Yonge                 7:00 PM

                                                Softball at Newberry                               6:00 PM

                                                Track & Field at Oak Hall                        4:30 PM

Saturday: Feb. 27:         JV Baseball vs Crescent City at Eastside 1:00 PM

Athletic Schedule can be found at www.sfchs.org.  Click Athletics, then Athletic Calendar.

 

See you in Church!