October 28

We have had a very busy and blessed week! I want to personally thank Susan Kenney and all of her volunteers for making the Grandparent's Day event another huge success.  We were honored to have Bishop McManus celebrate Mass with us.  Our students made us proud!
Thank you also to Wendy Thomas and all of our Book Fair volunteers that helped this week. The students have plenty of new reading material and we earned lots of books for our classrooms and library. THANK YOU
If you did not get a chance to visit the Book Fair or they did not have a book your child wanted- you have until Tuesday to shop on-line! All books are delivered to the school free of charge.  Visit-http://onlinebookfairs.scholastic.com/default.aspx?f=3572813
to finish your book shopping.

Please note there will be NO School Masses on November 16 and November 30 as Father Fred will be on vacation.
There has also been a change in date for the Christmas Concert. The PK-3 Christmas Concert will take place on Wednesday, December 21st at 1:30.

HALLOWEEN
On Monday we will celebrate Halloween. Students can come to school dressed in appropriate Orange, Black and Purple out of dress! Allow your creativity to flow.
Students in K-3 will bring their costumes to school and change after lunch. Our annual Horribles Parade will take place at 1:30 followed by classroom parties. Friends and Family are welcome to stop in for the parade in the lobby.
Preschool students will have their celebration and parade at the big school in the morning.

DESIGN SQUAD
Dream It, Build It, Live It!
Students in Grades 3 – 8 are invited to put their math, science and problem solving skills to work at our next Design Squad Event on Saturday, November 12th from noon to 4pm in the school gym.
Design Squad was started in 2011 by a group of parents that wanted to introduce Engineering to the students at St. Anna’s.    The program is based on the PBS Design Squad Series and has been a huge hit with the students over the years.   The day consists of 2 engineering projects and one chemistry project.  Refreshments and pizza will be available.   
All new participants will receive a free Design Squad t-shirt.  Returning participants can be purchase a new t-shirt for $10.   You can register using this link: https://goo.gl/forms/B2KOgle2iH19HO7U2
The deadline to sign up to be sure you receive a t-shirt is Monday, October 31st.
Deadline to sign up to participate - Friday, November 6th.
Calling all parent engineers and volunteers!   We need your help to continue this wonderful day for the students. Parent volunteers are assigned to a group of 4-5 students and you work with them throughout the day, guiding them through the different projects.
If you would like to help please contact Laura Pompei at valerilaura@hotmail.com  or Sarah O’Toole at jspmotoole1@netscape.com

SOCKS FOR SANTA
The second and third grade students have begun a 2 ½  month service project in which we will be collecting white cotton or thermal socks or cotton underwear to be distributed to homeless shelters, women’s shelters, and the elderly of our community. We often don’t realize or simply forget that those in need have needs other than food.
It is our hope that each student in grades two through eight might participate by bringing a small package of socks or underwear each month (Oct., Nov., Dec.) to be collected by the second and third grade students and distributed to the appropriate agency for distribution to residents who live in our school community area.
Please consider helping those who are in need of socks or underwear for the cold winter ahead.
A small package of socks or underwear each month is a small price to pay for knowing that the elderly in our neighborhoods are going to be warm this winter.
Thank You from the second and third grade students of St. Anna Catholic School

ADVENT WREATHS
Please join the Friends of St. Anna PTO to ring in the Advent season with a Family Advent Wreath making night on November 18th from 6:00-7:00 at the church hall.  The cost is only $10 per family and includes the supplies for making your live greenery wreath (candles are not provided).  We are asking that families pre-register here before November 10th so we have an accurate count for supplies.  We hope you can join us!

TURKEY TROT
Our Annual Turkey Trot will take place on Tuesday, November 22nd at 9:30. Students in grades K-2 will complete laps around the parking lot. We tally the number of laps they are able to complete while they are cheered on by the preschoolers and older students. Students in grades 3-8 then complete their turkey trot race on a route that goes from the in front of the church and finishes back in front of the church where the other students are able to cheer them on as they cross the finish! ALL students in K-8 are welcome to sign up to race. There is no fee; however we ask that everyone brings in a non-perishable food item to help restock the St. Anna food pantry.  Mrs. Priddy is also looking for helpers to supervise along the route. Please email her if you’re able to help that morning.
Please sign up your child if they plan on participating in the trot!

WINTER UNIFORMS
Winter Uniforms will begin Tuesday, November 1st. Please refer to the Parent Student Handbook for more information.  Some important notes:  

1. Girls may wear navy or gray leggings with their jumpers, skorts, and skirts as long as they are solid navy or gray and appropriate.  The leggings may replace tights especially as the weather gets colder.  
2. Grade 6-7:  Boys will start wearing navy blue neck ties with dress oxford shirts.
3. Grade 8 boys may wear any school appropriate tie with their dress shirts. Grade 8 girls may wear their maroon sweaters. 
4. Please remember that only St. Anna Sweatshirts, sweaters, or jackets may be worn in school during the day.  
   

HEARTS FOR HEAT
The 6th, 7th, and 8th grade will again participate in Hearts for Heat. The students will be baking up goodies available to purchase during conferences. The money raised is matched by Fraticelli Oil and used to provide heating fuel to the elderly of the parish who are in need of assistance. Don’t forget to stop by during the day or during conferences to purchase your sweet treats!

GIFT CARDS MAKE GREAT GIFTS-- St. Anna PTO - Great Lake Scrips Gift Card Program 
The St. Anna PTO will once again offer "One Stop Shopping" for all of your Christmas Gift Card needs!   You can order all of your gift cards in one place, at one time and they are delivered directly to the school.  No running from store to store or standing in long lines.  There are over 300 major retailers to choose from and the biggest bonus - the retailers donate a portion of the cards value back to St. Anna School!    It is fundraising while you shop!   You can also order gift cards and use them for your everyday purchases. Stock up on Dunkin Donuts, Panera or Starbucks cards and use them to purchase your morning coffee.
 
Please visit www.shopwithscrip.com to create an online account.  Detailed instructions can be found on the school website.  
If you don't want to create an online account, you can download a copy of the order form and submit it with your payment to Mrs. Priddy in the main office.  
 
The PTO will be placing 2 orders this Christmas season. The order deadlines are Monday, December 5th and Monday, December 12th.   
 
Paper order forms need to be turned in to the main office before the end of the school day, on the day of the deadline.   Online orders can be submitted up to 6:30pm EST on the day of the deadline.  
 
Please email Laura Pompei at valerilaura@hotmail.com with any questions.   

Cafe Corner

November Lunch Menu

Orders can be placed until 7am on the day of the meal at www.orderlunches.com

Don't forget you can also order milk to go with home lunches- you can either order on-line or by sending in your milk money weekly or monthly to the office in an envelope marked with your child(ren)'s name.  Please do not send in milk money daily- it is difficult to keep track of all those quarters in the office. Thank You.

If you need to set up an OrderLunches account- follow the instructions here! 

Athletics & Activities

BASKETBALL SEASON IS ALMOST HERE!
Practices for grades 5-8 will begin the week of November 7th. Coaches will be in touch about details and times.
Practices for grades 1-4 will begin the week of November 14th if we have everyone signed up and coaches for each team as games will begin on December 3rd. We are still looking for grade 3 & 4 team coaches....
Please note- the Registration Fee has been REDUCED this year! The cost is $60 per student with a family max of $150!

BASKETBALL REGISTRATION Last Call... we need to get our teams ready.

CDC Heads Up Concussion Training will be required of ALL coaches, parents and players in grades 5-8


SKI CLUB- winter is quickly approaching. The beautiful leaves on mountain will soon be gone and the fluffy white stuff will be flying from the new snow making machine. It will then be time to strap on your skis or boards!  Join us on Wednesdays from 4:00-8:00 beginning on January 4th for the 8 week program.
Students must sign up on-line with the mountain for this program. Please let us know if you are signing up!
Here is the informational flyer for Wachusett Mountain and the Flyer with directions on how to sign up.  You must use www.wachusett.com/schoolgroups in order to sign up.

After School Programs 
 This is the LAST WEEK for our current after school programs and BOK.
Sign up NOW for the Second Session of After School Programs
November 14- January 20
Wednesdays- Minecraft Development grades 4-8
Thursdays- Lego Club grades K-3
Fridays- Kitchen Chemistry grades 3-5

DRAMA is Thursdays from 3:15-5:00

Choir Wednesday mornings 8:30 or church days- We have Mass on Tuesday, November 1st, and NO Mass on November 16th and November 30 but Choir WILL practice with Mr. Marcoux at the school at 8:30 on those days.

 Cheering  Saturdays from 9:00-11:00 until basketball season begins

PTO News

(email us at PTO@stannaleom.org)

• Please join us for our next PTO meeting: Wednesday, December 7th  at 6:00. Childcare always available thanks to our NJHS Students.
  
• Why should YOU come to PTO?
• Meeting Minutes & Agenda are always posted on the website.
• Don’t forget to keep clipping those Box Tops and Labels for Education!!!!   If you have any questions, please contact Julia at jekeiselbach@yahoo.com.
• You can also log onto boxtops4education.com or labelsforeducation.com for more information.

 

Upcoming Events...

10/31 Halloween- Horrible’s Parade 1:30
11/1 All Saint’s Day Mass at 9:00, Books & Beyond Begins
11/3 Books & Beyond kick off rally 9:00
11/4 Veteran’s Day Program 10:00
11/8 PTO Out of Dress Day
11/11 Veteran’s Day- No School
11/12 Design Squad 12:00-4:00
11/18 Family Advent Wreath Making
11/21 Early Dismissal- Parent Teacher Conferences
11/22 Early Dismissal- Turkey Trot and Conferences
11/23-11/25 Thanksgiving Break
11/28 No School- Diocese PD Day