MEMORANDUM

TO:       Parents of Queen of Peace Catholic Academy

FROM:  Sister Nancy Elder, IHM

DATE:   September 11, 2009

RE:       Weekly Update

Something new has been placed in the courtyard right outside the principal’s office!  Something which will spark conversation, provide a peace-filled distraction to a puzzling situation and fill the mind and heart with thoughts of God’s creation.  It is such a small blessing, but a spark for meditation – for there in the midst of the trees and plants, a thoughtful parent has added a hummingbird feeder. It stands tall with red sugar water waiting for hummingbirds to arrive.  It makes one wonder how this happens.  How long will it take for word (or chirps) to filter through the bird world that there is a welcome place for them at Queen of Peace?  How does that good news get to them?  Is it spread by other species of birds that fly around the courtyard?  Does one species of bird look out for other species?  Do they sense it? (Obviously, my knowledge of birds is limited.)

Not surprising, as the mind of this writer works, these ponderings of the latest “distraction” have led to thoughts of the great similarities to the formation and nurturing of our vibrant Faith Community.  How quickly a great community, like ours, spreads the Good News, fosters positive growth and assists one another.  How easily a great community reaches out to everyone lifting barriers of race, creed, color, age, and economic status.  How free God’s people are to sit side by side, praising our Creator for all that is and asking humbly for our needs to be met.  How conscious we all are of the peace that heals, the words that comfort, the touch that calms.

Not surprising, as well, that thoughts surfaced of the amount of time it takes for community to be formed.  Sometimes, community is absent; sometimes community is disjointed; sometimes community is rattled.  But always, the center is there.  For the hummingbirds, it is the feeder; for us it is the gift of faith nestled within.  Certainly, we need the gift of others to spark new life and to remind us of the treasure we hold in God’s presence in our lives.  Let’s all continue to spread the News of God’s love either through singing or speaking or chirping!

We Believe

Reminders and Other Things

• The annual Knights of Columbus Catholic Education dinner is tonight, Friday, September 11th at 6:00 PM at St. Francis Catholic High School Gymnasium.  Proceeds will benefit tuition assistance at St. Francis.  Tickets are $60.00 and may be purchased at the school office.  Donations of whatever amount will also be accepted.
• The Friends of QPA Breakfast is on Thursday, September 24th at 8:30 AM in the Welcoming Area of the Church.  This is a great event to thank all those who help us through their prayerful support and generous giving.  Please consider assisting in this event – contact Nancy Briles at n.briles@hotmail.com.
• Be sure to put Thursday, October 8th on your calendar for the parent presentation on Cyber Safety.  This presentation will begin at 6:30 PM in Walsh Hall.
• The Mary Courtyard is once again in need of weeding.  Anyone who can help will be greatly appreciated.
• Be sure to take a look at the new signage on the Administration Building.  How beautifully displayed is our name, our symbol and our motto!  How proud we are of Jessie Barnes ’09 depiction of Mary here at the Academy!
• The Lunch Menu can now be found on our website.  It is a tab on the left side of the screen - just below the Sports tab.

 

From Nurse Bunde:

Parents are reminded to contact the school nurse (mabunde@qopacademy.org) to report a student illness. Please do not send your children to school sick.  If a child has a fever, vomiting, and/or diarrhea along with a cough, sneezing, body aches, etc. he/she most likely has a contagious condition.  Until the student has been symptom-free (un-medicated) for 24 hours, he/she should not return to school. 

If a child's medical file is delinquent, parents will be getting a formal letter very soon to request the information.  Failure to comply is not acceptable and may result in the child missing school.

The consent forms for the Flu Mist Vaccine are due by Sept. 24th.  Even if the student is not going to receive the vaccine, the forms must be returned indicating that the vaccine is being declined.  The form can be downloaded from the Alachua County Health Department's website.  It is a 2 page form.

The Hearing and Vision Screening will be done on December 2nd & 3rd.

 

See you in Church!