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Welcome to 2012!
We hope you had a relaxing and wonderful Christmas break. We are looking forward to a great 2012 with you and your children!
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Matthew Kelly to Speak at St. Anastasia
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What is Holiness?
A message from Dr. Hoeffner, Principal, quoting Mathew Kelly
On February 17th, Mathew Kelly, an internationally-known writer and speaker will be speaking at our school. I invite you to read the book that the teachers and I have already read, titled Rediscover Catholicism. Many teachers from all over our Diocese of Palm Beach will be joining us on February 17th to hear Mathew Kelly speak about: The "Trinity" of Raising Children Catholic (Counter-Culture Parenting and Teaching).
After re-reading Rediscover Catholicism, I have been reflecting on the secular culture and the culture of holiness that are always at odds with each other in our school and in our families. Do we desire holiness for ourselves and for our children? Mathew Kelly also reflects on this topic in the sixth chapter of his book titled, "What is the Authentic Life." He asks,
"What is holiness? The falling attendance at church, the marginalization of the Church by our secular culture, and the failure to reach the youth are all caused by our inability to communicate clearly the answer to this question...What does living a holy life mean to you? We all have different ideas of who God is, and we all have different ideas of what it means to be holy. In your mind, does someone have to be a priest or nun to be holy? Can married people be holy? Do you view intimacy as a barrier to holiness or a path to holiness? Can a business-man or -woman be truly holy? Can you be holy?
Many people falsely believe that if you want to be holy, you are not allowed to enjoy life. Some believe to be holy you have to run away from the world. Others think you have to be in church or on your knees praying all day. Still others believe to be holy you have to walk around with a halo, that you're not allowed to smile, or have any fun, or enjoy yourself at all. They think to be holy you have to despise everything of this world and walk around with a long, drawn-out, stoic look on your face. These are all the very unnatural and unattractive ideas that the world proclaims about holiness.
Holiness brings us to life. It refines every human ability. Holiness doesn't dampen our emotions; it elevates them. Those who respond to God's call to holiness are the most joyful people in history. They have a richer, more abundant experience of life, and they love more deeply than most people can ever imagine. They enjoy life, all of life...Holiness doesn't stifle us; it sets us free....
Living a holy life means letting our decisions be guided by the Holy Spirit. It means allowing each moment to be all it can be. Holiness is living with the goal of the Christian life in mind. It is allowing our decisions to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Holiness is surrendering to the will of God, and at the same time, it is grasping each moment and making it all it can be. Sometimes holiness means indulging yourself and sometimes it means renouncing yourself. Each event in your life is an opportunity to change, to grow, and to become a better version of yourself - and that grasping of each moment is holiness. Holiness is allowing God to fill every corner of your being; that is when we truly become the best version of ourselves. Holiness is being set apart for God. It is a desire to do the will of God, and yet, the desire for holiness is itself a gift from God. Holiness is as simple as knowing when to say yes and when to say no, but like so many things in this life, we complicate the pursuit of holiness unnecessarily....(Mathew Kelly, taken from pages 75-77 in Rediscover Catholicism)."
I hope that you consider reading this book or come to join us for a morning of learning and reflection on February 17th. May God continue to bless your family, our church, and our school.
Click here to learn more about Matthew Kelly and his books. Click here to register for the event.
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Report Cards & Account Info
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Just a reminder, report cards are to be sent home next Thursday, Jan. 12. All report cards will be held for any tuition, lunch or extended care account in the arrears. Please be sure to upload funds on your child's account to make sure you receive your child's report card next week. Thank you.
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Open House
| We will host a school-wide Open House on Friday, Jan. 20 from 8 a.m. until noon. Please invite potential new families, friends, students and parents to join us on this day for tours and informational sessions. The Pre-K will have their Pajama Day on this day with special guest readers entertaining the children throughout the morning. For more information, please contact the school office at (772) 461-2232.
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Calendar Updates
| Please note these calendar updates for 2012:
Jan. 12 - Report cards sent home
Jan. 18 - Principal's List Free Dress Day (Middle School)
Jan. 30 - Catholic Schools Week Grandparent Mass for Grades 5-8
Jan. 31 - Catholic Schools Week Grandparent Mass for Grades Pre-K-4
Feb. 6-21 - Band Candy Sale
Feb. 10 - Field Day
Feb. 25 - 4th Annual Run for the Son 5K
Click here to download a copy of the updated calendar. |
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4th Annual Run for the Son 5K Race
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 Due to a scheduling conflict with the race management company, we have moved the 4th Annual Run for the Son 5K to Saturday, Feb. 25. Hopefully, you have already been training; but if not, now is the time! The race will begin at 7:30 a.m. near our pavilion and end with a quick run through our beautiful campus. The School Advisory Council is the host of this event.
The race is $25 and includes breakfast provided by the PTO, a goodie bag, prizes and a t-shirt to the first 100 registrants. There will also be a Kids Fun Challenge for children 10 and under. Please click here to register for the race.
Thank you to our current sponsors: Dr. Robert Tobar and Mrs. Karina Priest, LMHC. Sponsorships are available for the race from $100 to $500. We would encourage you to consider advertising your business with us. Click here for more information about sponsorships.
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Anti-Bullying Program and Parent Survey
| St. Anastasia Catholic School, along with all of the other schools in our Diocese, are participating in an important initiative within the Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach to further our commitment to teaching positive Catholic/Christian values in our schools while promoting the safety and well being of our Catholic school students. As co-partners with you in the education of your children, we constantly strive to provide an environment for learning which reflects the Gospel which we strive to imitate.
Across the country, public and private schools alike are combating a growing problem among young people -- that of inappropriate social and Internet behavior. Recognizing the challenges we face in dealing with this dangerous trend, the Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach is seeking to implement a comprehensive bullying prevention and response program in all 21 Catholic schools within our five-county diocese. A team comprised of leadership from around the diocese has been established to work together on this critical initiative and to collaborate with diocesan leadership staff. This staff includes the Chancellor, the Superintendent of Catholic Schools, and the Coordinator for the Office of Serving Children, as well as an outside professional expert, Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D., Co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida Atlantic University.
The initial step in this process is the administration of a survey to better understand the prevalence of bullying and cyberbulling behaviors, and to help inform where we need to direct personnel, resources, and expertise as we work to enhance student safety and well-being while also promoting safe learning environments. This survey will serve to collect quantitative and qualitative data, which will then specifically guide the prevention and response initiatives and strategies we implement. Without the data, we cannot make meaningful improvements in the areas that are revealed to need it.
Over the last several months drafts of the survey were pilot-tested at different grade levels, and the survey was revised accordingly. The age appropriate surveys have recently been administered across the diocese for students in 4th through 12th grade. Now we are ready to administer the parent and teacher surveys.
The purpose of this survey is to find out about bullying/harassment experiences of your child at school. This information will be used by the principal and teachers to help them understand where vulnerabilities are and help them promote an environment of respect, safety, and belonging for all students. We are not collecting your name or any identifying information from you, and the answers you provide to the survey questions cannot be linked to your child or anyone else in any way. We are simply interested in learning the perspectives of our parents.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this survey, please contact:
Mr. Gary Gelo
Superintendent of Schools
Diocese of Palm Beach
(561) 775-9547
ggelo@diocesepb.org
Mrs. Kit Johansen
Coordinator, Serving Children /Safe Environments
(561) 775-9593
kjohansen@diocesepb.org
Please click here to take the Parent Survey. |
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Catholic Schools Week 2012
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Catholic Schools Week celebrates what makes Catholic education distinctive and exceptional. During the week, we focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation. We build community awareness of and involvement in Catholic schools throughout the country. And we honor those who contribute to the success of our schools-students, families, faculty and staff, volunteers,community supporters, and local and national leaders.
The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2012 is "Catholic Schools: Faith. Academics. Service." The theme expresses three priorities that make Catholic schools stand out from other educational institutions. Children learn about faith-not just basic Christianity, but how to have a relationship with God. They concentrate on academics, which in Catholic schools are held to the highest standards, so they can reach their highest potential. They practice service-giving time, talent and effort to help others-as an expression of both faith and good citizenship. This combined focus on faith, academics and service prepares students for full and meaningful lives.
We are working on finalizing our school's agenda for the week. We will publish the entire week's schedule as soon as possible, but mark your calendars to join us for a great celebration of our school!
St. Anastasia Catholic School
Catholic Schools Week 2012
January 29-February 3, 2012
Sunday, January 29 - In Our Parish
Monday, January 30 - In Our Community
Tuesday, January 31 - In Our Faculty & Staff
Wednesday, February 1 - In Our Vocations
Thursday, February 2 -In Our Ministries
Friday, February 3 - In Our Students
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Pre-K Post
| Attention Pre-K parents! Pre-K has its own class page on our website that gives you important information and updates about all the happenings in Pre-K. Click here to go to the Pre-K Post!
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Choir News
| Thank you to the Choir members and families who attended the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve mass at St. Anastasia Catholic Church. The choir sounded like angels and it was a very beautiful addition to the mass.
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Band News
| Attention Band Parents: The 2nd Annual Band World's Finest Chocolate Candy Sale is coming up soon. The sale will take place from Feb. 6-21. All band members are asked to participate in this important fundraiser supporting the band program. The candy will sell for $2 per bar. Thank you for your support.
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School Advisory Council News
| The next School Advisory Council meeting is Friday, Jan. 6 at 7:30 a.m. in the Media Center. All parents are invited to attend.
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PTO News
| Please be sure and mark your calendars for the next meeting which is on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 7:45 a.m.
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Sports News
| The Junior Athletic Sports League soccer season will resume play this Saturday, Jan. 7.
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Magazine Drive News
| We have heard from a few parents and friends who ordered magazines but have not received them as of yet. Mrs. Trabulsy is working with the Magazine Drive representative to make sure all orders are in and are being processed. We used a new publishing company this year, QSP, and their processing times are 12-14 weeks, which is different than the publisher we used last year. Please allow for at least one more week for processing. If you haven't received your orders by Jan. 13, please contact Mrs. Trabulsy by e-mail at ltrabulsy@stanna.org. Thank you for your patience and support.
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Class Big Apple Fundraisers
|  Big Apple Pizza has graciously given our families an opportunity to participate in their own classroom fundraisers. Each class or group that chooses to participate can earn 50% of the proceeds from the evening to use to help parents offset the cost of field trips or programs.
The sixth-grade Big Apple Night will be on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. Mark your calendars for a fun night to raise funds for their field trip to Medieval Times in April.
Big Apple Pizza is located 2311 South 35th Street in Fort Pierce across from Indian River State College. Take out is available.
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Protecting God's Children Workshop Information
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The location for volunteers and employees to have their fingerprints scanned for their background check is Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach. The address is 500 Iris Lane and the phone number is 772-231-0671. Please call to make an appointment.
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Protecting God's Children Workshop
St. Sebastian Church (Sebastian)
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
**This is a different day than previously advertised.**
7:00 p.m. (2½ hours)
Adults only - please do not bring children
Pastoral Center (Palm Beach Gardens)
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
1:30 p.m. (2½ hours)
Please call 561-775-9530 to make a reservation
Adults only - please do not bring children
St. Joan of Arc Church (Boca Raton)
Friday, January 27, 2012
8:00 a.m. (2½ hours)
Adults only - please do not bring children
You can also go to www.virtus.org to register for a workshop. Click on "Registration" to begin the registration process. |
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St. A's Church News
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The next Council of Catholic Women's meeting is Saturday, Jan. 7 at 9:15 a.m., right after mass. Refreshments and babysitting available
New members welcome!!
Karina Priest, CCW President
561-329-4515
karinapriest@gmail.com
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Anastasia's Attic Thrift Store News
| When cleaning out those closets and toy boxes, be sure to remember Anastasia's Attic Thrift Store for your donations. Our Thrift Shop helps St. Anastasia School in many different ways. Funds from the Attic help with the school's budget, provide scholarships and help the teachers with items they would otherwise have to purchase.
The Attic is located at 3901 Okeechobee Road across from Dale's BBQ West in Fort Pierce. Pick up service for large items may also be arranged. The shop is open 7 days a week. For information or to schedule a pick up, please call 467-1444.
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St. A's Wish List
| We are still making progress on our "Wish List," but still need additional AV systems in several classrooms. If you are interested in donating items to your child's classroom, please contact either Mrs. Trabulsy at ltrabulsy@stanna.org or Dr. Hoeffner at khoeffner@stanna.org to discuss.
- Four (4) Polevault (AV) systems for Ms. Smith, Mrs. Odom, Mrs. D'Amato, and the Multipurpose Room (M-211 in the Media Center) at $20,000.
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Find Us on Facebook
|  St. Anastasia Catholic School is now on Facebook. If you use Facebook, then be sure to "like" us and keep up to date with daily updates.
Click here to find St. Anastasia Catholic School.
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JCHS News
| The JCHS Theater Department will hold a workshop on Wednesday afternoons from 3-4:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 4. Activities will include improvisation, acting, singing and dancing. Scene and monologue study will be offered for older actors.
The price is $20 per month. This includes the cost of any craft supplies needed for projects. There will also be an $8 drop-in fee available. The workshop is open to students in grades 3-8.
Please e-mail Mrs. Z at drama@johncarrollhigh.com to participate. Open to 25 students only.
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January 2012
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January 6 at 7:30 a.m - School Advisory Council Meeting
January 10 at 7:45 a.m. - PTO Meeting
January 12 - Report Cards Sent Home
January 13 - 7th Grade Retreat
January 16 - No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 18 - Principal's List Free Dress Day
January 20 - Pre-K Open House & Pajama Day, Pep Rally
January 23 - 7th Grade Parent Mass
January 27 - New Student Registration
January 28-February 3 - Catholic Schools Week
January 31 - CSW Grandparent Mass (Pre-K -4)
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February 2012
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January 28-February 3 - Catholic Schools Week
February 3 at 7:30 a.m. - School Advisory Council Meeting
February 3 - No School for Pre-K only
February 6-21 - Band Candy Sale
February 7 at 7:45 a.m. - PTO Meeting
February 10 - 6th-8th Grade Dance
February 14 - 3rd Grade Parent Mass
February 16 - 6th Grade Retreat
February 17 - No School, Teacher Professional Day
February 20 - No School, President's Day
February 22 - Ash Wednesday
February 25 - 4th Annual Run for the Son 5K Run/Walk
February 27-March 2 - Iowa Testing for 2nd-8th Grades
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Join Our Mailing List!
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| Feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone who might be interested in the information by clicking on the "Forward this e-mail" button on the left. To sign up for this newsletter, please e-mail me at LTrabulsy@stanna.org or click on the "Join Our Mailing List!" tab on the left. |
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Thank you for your support of St. Anastasia Catholic School. We appreciate your support and feedback! Be sure and visit the school's website where all previous newsletters are archived for your reference at www.stanna.org. God Bless!
Sincerely,
Linette Trabulsy
Development Director
St. Anastasia Catholic School |
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