Dear Parents and Friends,

Love is a word that is so overused that the meaning has been diluted to the level of a Hallmark card. What does Jesus mean when he says that He loves us? Jesus asked Peter, "Do you not only love me more, but beyond the depth and breadth of infinity?" Peter's response indicates the limitations of his humanity and of ours today when he said, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you'."

But do we really love as Jesus has commanded? If it were written today, Matthew 18:20-21 might sound something like this:

Love is kind; it isn't rude or selfish and doesn't guilt other people to get what it wants.

Love is patient; it doesn't freak out when things don't go its way.

Love is quick to believe the best about people and slow to believe the rest of what others say.

Love is always ready to give others the benefit of the doubt and looks for the best in them.

Love doesn't always need to be right or have the last word.

Love speaks words of kindness instead of repeating gossip or putting others down.

Love is open-minded; it doesn't judge or label people.

Real love never fails because God is love and God is always with us.

Will you pray with me?

Thank you, Lord, for loving us beyond our own selfishness. Be with our students and families and the two young men who robbed our students (Article to follow). Help them to find your love and right ways. Keep our girls safe in the knowledge of what your love is.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

God bless, and have a wonderful week.

Mrs. Mann

Last Monday one of our students had her laptop stolen from her while waiting outside for her father to pick her up at about 5:30 pm. This was quite disturbing for all of us. I reported the incident to all of the students and teachers the next day on PA-TV, giving them the exact police description of the two men. We know we have a very safe school, but things like this can happen anywhere, and on Monday it happened at Padua.

We never take the safety of our students for granted. We have increased several safety precautions that I would like to review with you:

• 16 security video cameras are in place around our school providing surveillance for all of the sidewalks and streets around the school as well as parking lots. The Greek Lot also has cameras. We monitor these throughout the day. We have provided Monday's tapes to the police, and we do have the two men on those tapes.
• I have requested that the Wilmington Police Department increase their presence around our school during both day and night.
• I have requested that the St. Francis Hospital security team include us once again in their roving patrol security cars.
• We have increased our outside adult presence at both arrival and dismissal times.

As always, we keep all doors locked throughout the day and night. All coaches and teachers working with students in the evenings stay with the students at all times. I am positive that the police will apprehend these young men, but we will continue with these initiatives throughout the year.

Freshman Convocation on Sept. 30

We want to remind all freshman parents of the upcoming Freshman Convocation which will be held Tuesday evening, Sept. 30, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church. As one of the first Padua traditions in your daughter's high school career and the first time the class of 2018 will gather together for Mass, we know this will be a special occasion. A letter outlining the details was recently emailed to parents. Students must be lined up by 6:40 p.m. Students will practice for this event during Flex. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Vanessa Vavala (vvavala@paduaacademy.org). Click here for a message from Fr. Nick Waseline with an explanation of the Mass. If you have never attended a Catholic Mass, we hope this will help explain this Holy Sacrament.

Padua Madrigals

Auditions for the madrigal singing group will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24 in room 402. Students are expected to prepare a short song (music available in room 402) for the audition.  This a cappella group will rehearse and perform songs from the Renaissance era and carols. Please direct any questions to Dr. Scott (sscott@paduaacademy.org)

Picture Retakes

Students who were not satisfied with their pictures, and anyone who has not yet had her picture taken, can meet with Lifetouch on Wednesday, Oct. 2, during the lunch period. To have a retake done, students must return the complete package they received in homeroom. Pictures are taken in school uniform.

Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences

Conferences will be held Thursday, Oct. 2, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Updated grades are being posted to Netclassroom. Parents are asked to check their daughters' grades and arrange for a conference if needed. Parents and students make the appointments. Padua Academy will be using Signup Genius to schedule these appointments. Please sign up by completing the following steps:

• Go to www.signupgenius.com
• Click the tab labeled "Find a Sign Up"
• In the box marked "Search by the sign up creator's email," type: mlundstrom@paduaacademy.org
• In the box below that, type in the answer to the security question and click Search
• Click on Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences for the hour you wish to schedule conferences.
• Scroll down to the time slot you wish to reserve. The list of teachers is alphabetical. Click on "Sign Up" next to each teacher and the time you wish to sign up for.
• Click "Submit and Sign Up" at the bottom and you will be directed to enter your information. Please put the student's name in the comment box.

"Basket-Mania" Donations for Fashion Show Auction are Due!

Please consider donating $5 or $10 towards this effort. The donation can be sent in to the Main Office in an envelope with your student's name and grade included.  Please return all donations by Friday, Oct. 10.

Important Dates for Parents: 

• Next Fashion Show Meeting for Parent Volunteers - Oct. 1 @ 6:30 in the Café
• Fashion Show Basket Mania Money Due - Oct. 10

Upcoming Dates:

• Save the Date - Padua Fashion Show: Nov. 2

Homecoming Weekend

The Padua Academy Student Council invites you to celebrate Homecoming Weekend with the entire Padua community Oct. 2 & 3! Homecoming will consist of two exciting days full of activities for the whole family. Homecoming T-shirts on are Sale NOW through Sept. 23!  

On Thursday, Oct. 2, students will have the opportunity to dress down in their Homecoming t-shirts and celebrate a Pep Rally Assembly. The spirit will continue in the Thursday evening at the Home Volleyball Game where the defending State Champions take on Tower Hill, their opponent in the state championship final last year, at 7:15 p.m. (directly after Parent/Teacher Conferences). Students are asked to wear their Homecoming T-shirts to the game. We hope that you can join us to cheer on the volleyball team!

After school on Friday there will be a Spirit Bus transporting students to the 3:45 p.m. field hockey game where the Pandas take on rival Charter at Forbes Field. Following the field hockey game, there will be a Tailgate with tons of great food and tailgate games.

The t-shirt design will be posted around the school. Click here to download an order form. Order forms are also available in the cafe.  Please return all order forms and money to the office, no later than Tuesday, Sept. 23.

Spirit Wear Sale

The fall online spirit wear sale ends Sept. 26. To purchase: 

1. Go to uniqueimagetshirts.com and select the SHOP tab
2. Click on the Padua icon
3. Select items and sizes you would like to purchase
4. Complete your purchase with either a Credit Card or PayPal
5. Your items will be delivered directly to Padua and available for pick up around October 24th.

Parking Option 

With the large size of the junior and senior classes, on-street parking remains a bit of a challenge this year. If you would like to know that the student has a spot waiting for her, that the car is in a secure facility with limited access, and that security guards are nearby, consider signing the student up for a parking spot at St. Francis Hospital's DuPont Street Employee garage. The rate is $25 per month. The Padua shuttle is making two trips in the morning, picking up at 7:30 am and 7:40 am.   Padua has access to as many as 50 more spots. Please contact Mrs. Manelski for more information. To access information and registration forms, click here.

Help Us Recruit the Class of 2019

One of the most effective ways we have found to spread the news about Padua is by offering "Padua Nights" - small, informal get-togethers where prospective families can learn more about the Padua experience. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to meet Mrs. Mann and Ms. Maguire in the comfort of a friend's home.

If you are interested in hosting a Padua Night in your home or if you have any questions about this program, please email Ms. Maguire at smaguire@paduaacademy.org.   

Host Families Needed 

Padua will be welcoming 6 exchange students from Annecy, France for approximately a two-week stay this October. The students are tentatively scheduled to arrive on Oct. 15 and depart on Oct. 29.  We are currently looking for Padua students of any grade and their families to serve as host families for our French guests.  This is a great opportunity for our Padua students to make friends with other young ladies like them from around the world!  If you think you might be interested or would like further information about hosting an exchange student, please email Mrs. Lindsay Greenberg at lgreenberg@paduaacademy.org. Thank you.

Job Listings

Each week Padua Academy will post job openings in the Family Newsletter. A preliminary application form is included, that requires a parent signature. This provides some oversight, and authorizes the school to release the personal contact information to the perspective employer. Padua Academy provides these referrals as a service to our students, and bears no responsibility for actions or decisions of the employer or the parents.  

Outside work can provide valuable experience and help the student develop adult perspectives and skills. However, Padua Academy recommends that our students work no more than eight to ten hours per week. Academic work must remain the first priority for Padua Students. Those with the most challenging course loads have already committed to many hours of study per day, and may need to carefully limit the number of hours they work during the school year.  

Students may click here to access the Preliminary Application. The school will forward the information to the employer. As a general guideline, students should return the signed preliminary application to the Dean of Students within two school days.

• Retail - Specialty Clothing, North Wilmington: A Padua alumna will be hiring a number of retail assistants to cover this store's busy season from the late fall through the spring. Students who have a pleasant manner with the public, a good work ethic, and availability after school, evenings, or weekends are invited to apply.
• Mother's Helper, North Wilmington: Busy mother needs a mature, friendly, high-energy student who has a car and is permitted to drive several children to practices and activities after school, several days per week. Helper is asked to complete a few routine household tasks also. Hours may vary. Not suitable for students involved in sports or other major time commitments after school.  
• Senior Citizen Housing, North Wilmington: Senior housing wait staff, part time. Offers upscale dining, with outstanding service. Looking for 0-6 months experience with food service in a senior housing environment or in the restaurant or hotel industry, with a passion and understanding for senior citizens, and taking pride in one's work, ability to work as part of a team, and a willingness to go above and beyond to offer excellent service.

National Honor Society Application/Selection Process

The Paduan Chapter of the National Honor Society is an active service organization whose membership selection is based on four characteristics - character, service, scholarship, and leadership. Juniors and Seniors having a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.50 have been invited to apply for membership. Completed information forms on which students were asked to document their service activities and leadership roles are due back to Mrs. Fundakowski by 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, Sept. 25. A five-member faculty selection committee will then review these submitted applications.   

In the context of the National Honor Society, service is considered to be those actions undertaken by a student that are done with or on behalf of others without any direct financial or material compensation. Contributions the candidate has made to both school and community are considered.  As all Padua students have a mandatory service requirement for graduation, the selection committee is looking for those who have service hours above and beyond this requirement.

Demonstrated leadership is considered very important for membership selection. Candidates are asked to give evidence of sustained peer leadership. While leadership is not just defined by a title, it is something larger than a single day or event commitment. Leadership, beyond just being an active participant in an organization, needs to have been demonstrated. An essay submitted with her information form gives each candidate the opportunity to select one of her leadership roles and to explain the responsibilities of the position, how she has carried through on these responsibilities and the personal impact that serving as a leader has had on the candidate herself.

There are many talented students here at Padua Academy. The NHS selection committee is charged with selecting those who excel in all four areas of character, service, scholarship, and leadership.  The committee takes its task very seriously and carries it through with great care.  The committee hopes to have this year's announcement of membership made by early November.  

Important Dates for Parents 

• College Financial Aid Evening - Monday, December 15th beginning at 6:30pm.  Parents of all students are welcome to attend
• Case Study Event - Wednesday, October 22nd beginning at 6:30pm -Ever wonder how college applications are read?  Ever wonder why student A with a 3.5 GPA was chosen over student B who had a 4.0 GPA?  This event will give you an inside look into how college admissions representatives read college applications.  You will work in small groups in reading, reviewing and deciding on four college applications.  The catch, however, is that of the four applications, your group can only admit one, waitlist one, and deny two.   This evening promises to be very informative and fun while helping parents and students understand the nuances of college admissions!

Important Dates for Students 

• SAT test:  October 11th, November 8th, December 6th
• ACT test:  October 25th & December 13th
• PSAT test:  October 15th (All Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors)

St. Francis 5K

The annual Saint Francis Foundation 5K Walk/Run will be held Sept. 28. The event gift is a three-quarter, performance running jacket for all paid participants. The fundraiser supports the wonderful outreach work of St. Francis Hospital, and anyone interested in signing up can visit http://www.races2run.com/events/saint-francis-foundation-5k/

Spaghetti Dinner

Little Sisters of the Poor's 32nd Annual Spaghetti Dinner & Fall Harvest Festival will be held Nov. 2. Stop in for great food, beautiful crafts, home-made baked goods, family-friendly games & raffles featuring theme baskets, a mystery dinner, take-out and framed cross-stitch. Click here for the event flyer.

NYC Theatre Trip

Tickets for Padua's Spring New York Trip are on sale now! You may choose between Aladdin or Kinky Boots. The day includes bus transportation to and from NYC, lunch at Sardi's, and orchestra seats at the show of your choice. Click here for the event flyer and registration information.

Padua to Honor Kathy Ireland at  

2015 Dinner in Honor of Women's Achievement

Kathy Ireland, former supermodel turned CEO and chief designer of her remarkably successful design and marketing company Kathy Ireland Worldwide (kiWW), will be honored at the 6th Annual Padua Academy Dinner in Honor of Women's Achievement. The event will be held on Apr. 16 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington. Founded in 1993, Kathy's company has become a "design empire which grosses over 2.2 billion dollars annually in retail sales," as reported by Forbes magazine.

In addition to her work as one of the nation's top female CEOs, Kathy is a strong vocal advocate fighting against the exploitation of children in human trafficking. She is a global philanthropist for Christian-based education and an outspoken advocate for the pro-life movement. Her work with the Providence Educational Foundation supports the development of innovative, high-quality, Christian education that facilitates intellectual, social, and spiritual growth. Click here for ticket information. The sooner you buy, the better your seating position will be.

Team Wins, Week of 9/15 

Congratulations to the Following Teams on their WINS last week:

• Volleyball: Varsity 3 - 0 vs. St. Marks, Varsity 3 - 0 vs. Concord, Freshman 2 - 1 vs. St. Marks
• Field Hockey: Varsity 2 - 1 vs. Ursuline Academy, Varsity 1 - 0 vs. Tatnall, JV 2 - 0 vs. Tatnall

Athletic Schedule 9/22-9/27

Volleyball: Away Game vs. Delaware Military Academy Tuesday, September 23 JV 4:30pm, Varsity 6:00pm; Away Game vs. St. Elizabeth's HS Friday, September 26 Freshman 3:45pm, JV 5:30pm, Varsity 7:00pm; one-way bus to depart Padua at 2:30pm, early dismissal 2:15pm; Freshman Home Game vs. Mt. Pleasant HS Monday, September 22 3:30pm; Freshman Home Game vs. Moyer Academy Wednesday, September 24 3:30pm. 

Field Hockey: Varsity Only Away Game vs. St. Thomas More Academy Tuesday, September 23 4:30pm; two-way bus to depart Padua 2:30pm and return to Padua after the game; JV Only Away Game vs. St. Elizabeth's HS Wednesday, September 24 3:45pm at The Hockessin Montessori School; one-way bus to depart Padua 2:20pm, early dismissal 2:10pm. 

Cross Country: Carlisle Invitational Saturday, September 27 9:00am at Carlisle HS (PA); Bus and Van departure Friday, September 26 12:30pm; early dismissal 12:15pm.  

Please visit www.pandassports.com for full rosters and schedules of each team. We hope to see you on the sidelines bringing us your Padua Spirit!!

Monday, 9/22 (Cycle 5) 

Tuesday, 9/23 (Cycle 6) 

Homecoming T-Shirt Orders Due  

Wednesday, 9/24 (Cycle 7) 

Student Dismissal at 1:40 p.m.   

Padua Madrigals Auditions, 5:30 p.m. in Room 402 

Thursday, 9/25 (Cycle 1) 

Advocacy Program for Success, Flex

NHS Applications Due by 3:00 p.m. 

Class of 1964 School Tour, 5:30 p.m. 

Friday, 9/26 (Cycle 2)

Student Council Installation (PM Assembly)  

Online Spirit Wear Sale Ends