TO:       Parents of Queen of Peace Catholic Academy

FROM:  Sister Nancy Elder, IHM

DATE:   October 15, 2009

RE:       Weekly Update

Today, October 15th, is the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila.  Teresa was born in Avila, Spain.  She entered the convent at an early age full of life and fun and energy.  Illness took away some of that energy but never her enthusiasm and determination to live in communion with God.  She had quite an unusual relationship with God, expressed in her comment after the carriage in which she rode turned over in the mud.  She said something like, “Well, God, if this is the way you treat your friends, I can’t imagine how you treat those who are not!”

Teresa presents a challenge for all of us.  Sometimes we think that God is not within our reach nor able to hear us when we speak in “human” ways and words.  Yet that is exactly how God wants us to relate.  How can God respond to our deepest desires unless we can first articulate them?  How can God assist us in sorting out our thoughts unless we first formulate them?  God is as real to us as we are to God.  If God delights us, a thank you is appropriate.  If we think that God is responsible for something which annoys us, letting God know our thoughts is okay.

In filling my own mind with thoughts of Teresa, I came across her prayer of gratitude:

            May today there be peace within.  May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.  May you not forget the infinite possiblities that are born of faith;.  May you use those gifts that   you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.  May you be content knowing you are a child of God.  Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.  It is there for each and every one of us.

We Believe

Reminders and Other Things

• Today, October 15th is the end of the first marking period; report cards for Grade 1 – 8 will go home on October 23rd.
• There is no school on Monday, October 19th which is a Professional Day for the Faculty at the Academy.
• Individual pictures will be taken on Tuesday, October 20th.  The students may wear either their everyday or formal uniform.
• Bishop Galeone will visit the Academy on Wednesday, October 21st.  The students are to wear their formal uniforms.
• The Middle School is preparing for their Invention Sensation on Wednesday, October 28th beginning at 6:00 PM in Walsh Hall.  Don’t miss this event!
• Our annual Halloween Parade for students in PreK – Grade 3 will be on Friday, October 30th.  The parade starts at 8:30 AM beginning in Walsh Hall to the Church, the Church offices, the Middle School courtyard and Administration Offices.  Students are to wear their costume over their uniforms to make for an easy change after the parade.  Please avoid full face masks and frightening outfits.
• Please help us to give candy to the parade students by sending in a bag of wrapped candy.  The candy will be distributed to all the adults the students will meet along the way so that they can “gift” the children.
• Monday, November 2nd is a Diocesan In-Service Day.  There will be no school for students that day.
• Our second Parent Mini-Convention is scheduled for Thursday, November 5th.  A variety of topics will be addressed.  Parents will have an opportunity to attend two of the sessions provided.  Additional information is forthcoming.

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

 

From Sally Wasik:

QPA BASKETBALL THROUGH THE YMCA - REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 30TH

Registration is going on now for QPA basketball. We play in the YMCA  Classic League.

Practice begins the week of November 9, 2009

Games begin the week of November 30, 2009 and there are usually 8 games, 1 each week.

Games will be played at QPA unless there are scheduling conflicts, then they will either be at the NW YMCA or the Boys Club

Game times will be 6:30, 7:30 or 8:30

Game Days will be Wed. for K/1, Thursday for 2/3, and Friday for 4/5. There may be some Sat. games depending on the final schedule

Fee is $70 for YMCA members and $90 for non-members. Make check payable to the YMCA. There is a $5 discount for siblings.

If you coach a team you will get a 50% discount off the fee. 

WE NEED COACHES!!! Right now we only have 1 2/3 grade coach and 1 4/5 grade coach, so we need many more volunteers to coach our basketball teams. If you are interested in coaching  a team or even co-coaching a team, please contact Sally Wasik 222-1655/sjwasik@cox.net as soon as possible.  

The YMCA coaches will be on Tuesday, November 3rd @ 6 pm at the Northwood YMCA on 34th Street. 

We are always looking for team sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring a team the fee $300 payable to QPA. That money goes directly to the QPA K/5 sports program. There is also an opportunity to sponsor the whole league for $2,500. If your business would like to sponsor the whole league your name would be printed on all the uniforms. Unfortunately that money goes directly to the YMCA.

FYI  - The YMCA also has a premier league in case your child would like to try out for one of those YMCA teams. You can contact the Northwood YMCA direct for more information; however, the try outs are going to be held on October 24th and October 25th at the Northwood YMCA. It is open to 2/3 and 4/5 graders. 2/3 graders tryout time is 1-2 on both Sat. and Sun. and 4/5 graders tryout time is 2:30-3:30 on both Sat. and Sun. Remember that QPA teams are not participating in the premier league but the classic league.

All registration forms must be turned into the QPA office, not the YMCA, by Friday, October 30th, in order for your child to participate.

 

See you in Church!