TO:       Parents of Queen of Peace Catholic Academy

FROM:  Sister Nancy Elder, IHM

DATE:   October 23, 2009

RE:       Weekly Update

It’s stewardship time here at Queen of Peace!   Within the next few weeks, we will hear our financial report and a testimonial.  We will view our annual video and listen to our pastor.  And then, recalling our many gifts and blessings, we will have the opportunity and privilege to discern our response gift back to our loving God.

Our Academy is filled with models of generous giving.  From the receptionist desk in the Administration Building to the classrooms and the Media Center to the lunchroom and the sports program, over and over again, loving and faith filled people are returning gift for gift.  Our daily routine which provides an excellent education and spiritual formation for our students is enriched over and over again by these magnanimous stewards.  In addition, we can boast of our many parents who respond to expressed needs as well as to those who serve on committees and share their expertise.  How many are the gifts which are shared!

From our earliest age we have been reminded of God’s goodness and our response.  Each day is filled with God’s magnificent creation, God’s love and God’s care.  We marvel at the foliage, the sky; we smile at the quick minds of children and adults and we continue to be wowed at the daily miracles.  Truly, God has been so good to us in the past, God will be good to us today as well as in the future.  No one can deny God’s presence!  Let’s all join in thought-filled praise.  Let’s all spend some time in thought-filled prayer.  Let’s all try to grow closer to God this day.

We Believe

Reminders and Other Things

• Bishop Galeone thoroughly enjoyed his visit to the Academy on Wednesday, October 21st.  He got to visit all students and to speak with them and ask them questions.  He took their spirit back to Jacksonville with him.
• 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.
• There will be a meeting for both boys and girls basketball on Wednesday, October 28th at 3:15 PM in the Gym.
• There will be a Family Holy Hour on Thursday, October 28th from 7-7:45pm (after the Invention Sensation).  Father Kaz will talk about All Saints and end the Holy Hour with Benediction. It will take place in the main Church, and there will be snacks for the children afterwards. If you can't stay for the entire time, feel free to come for a few minutes. All ages welcome!

Please Note:

There are two attachments to our Weekly Update.  One is a reminder and a registration form for the upcoming Queen of Peace Catholic Community Intergenerational Prayer Opportunity.  Please read and consider seriously attending with your family.

Second you will find the application form for those of who whose children will need the second FluMist Vaccine.

From Nurse Bunde:

FluMist 2nd Dose Information:

If your child is age 8 or under and received the FluMist Vaccine for the first time on Oct. 15 at QPCA you will be receiving a consent form for the 2nd dose of the vaccine.  Please complete the form and return it to school as soon as possible.

If your child is age 8 or under, received the FluMist Vaccine at QPCA on Oct. 15 and you wrote that your child has been vaccinated for the Flu in the past (Yes to question #1 on the consent form) your child may still need to have the 2nd Dose of FluMist.  If the most recent vaccine (prior to Oct. 15, 2009) was more than 1 year ago, the child should get the 2nd dose of FluMist.   Please download the consent form from my Edline webpage or contact me via e mail to request the form.  Complete the form and return to school as soon as possible.  I have a list of 88 students who might need the 2nd vaccine!

The date for the 2nd Vaccination has not yet been scheduled, but will be around 30 days from the first vaccination.  As soon as the date is scheduled, I will post the date on the Edline Health page.  The date will also be announced in the weekly newsletter.

In regard to the H1N1 Vaccination:  The Health Dept. and area pediatricians have the vaccine to give.  To find out whether your child is eligible to receive the vaccine, please contact the Health Dept.  There are two forms of the vaccine: “live attenuated”- in nasal spray form and “inactivated”-in shot form.  Please note that you may not be allowed to receive the live attenuated H1N1 Vaccine if you were given the FluMist Vaccine until 30 days have passed.  Also note that if a 2nd dose of the FluMist is to be given, you will have to wait another 30 days to receive the H1N1 nasal mist.  If you plan to get the H1N1 vaccine in shot form, there is no waiting period that I’m aware of.  Please refer to the Alachua County Health Dept or CDC website for the most accurate, up-to-date information.  Due to the current vaccination time line, we will not offer the H1N1 FluMist Clinic at QPCA.  

* Although telephone calls are welcome, please make sure that all correspondence regarding health related issues be in writing also.  This allows for more accurate record keeping.

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.

Fall Book Fair Coming                                       

Queen of Peace Catholic Academy's Second Annual Fall Book Fair is only weeks away!
Book Fair dates are November 16th - November 20th so mark your calendar now.
Destination Book Fair: Read Around the World promises fun and adventure for all to
share. Be sure to check out the Book Fair homepage at:

http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/qopacademybookfair

Book Fair Volunteers are needed!!  There are an array of volunteer opportunities….
fair setup, provide refreshments, fair helpers, break down, to name a few. 
If you would like to help, please sign-up via the volunteer link found on the Book Fair homepage.
Or you can email Mrs. Reakes directly at:  ewreakes@qopacademy.org.

Don’t miss out on the fun and excitement! CYA @ the Book Fair!

 

See you in Church!