January 3, 2008

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Happy New Year! We know that this new year will bring its share of joys, challenges and opportunities. May we look on each of these as times of growth and an opportunity for happiness.

The month of January often has been a month to settle in and slow down a bit, following the Thanksgiving/Christmas celebrations. Not this year! Along with celebrating Catholic Schools Week at the end of the month, we also will be celebrating Mardi Gras. What excitement both of these celebrations will generate!

Each year, as principal, I prepare a “State of the School” report. Using input from faculty and staff members, NPA officers and School Advisory Council members, the summary identifies ways in which our school has addressed various topics (Catholic Identity, Finances, Buildings/Grounds, Curriculum) throughout the past year. The final portion of the report names strengths and areas needing improvement and includes goals for the coming year. I would like to share that report with you on Thursday, January 24th at 6:00 p.m. We had talked about having a potluck dinner sometime in January and I think that this will be a perfect occasion. Please plan to attend. The “report” portion will be fairly brief, so your entire family is welcome to attend.

Beginning this month, our diocese will begin preparations for a District-wide SACS Accreditation. This accreditation, in addition to our accreditation by the State of Mississippi, ensures that our personnel, programs and facilities all work together to provide a strong academic experience for our children. Our school has maintained this SACS Accreditation (Southern Association of Schools) since the early 1980’s and we look at this opportunity for district accreditation as way in which to strengthen our school. Each principal, along with several representatives from each school, will serve on the committees in preparation for the February, 2009 visit. Nanette Burke, Jody Grimes, Annette Luther, Jennifer Schmidt and Kristie Warner will represent our school.

I would like to extend a special invitation to you and your families to attend several special events during Catholic Schools Week. To begin the celebration, you and your family are invited to attend the 9:00 a.m. liturgy at Nativity Cathedral on Sunday, January 27th. Our choir will assist in the singing and we will host coffee and doughnuts following the Mass. It will be a wonderful way for us to join in prayer and celebration with our larger parish community. On Wednesday, January 23rd, Bishop Rodi will celebrate the liturgy in our school gym. The Mass, at 11:00 a.m., will be followed by our annual (winter) family picnic. It is a great honor that our Bishop takes the time to personally visit our school and pray with us. If at all possible, please plan to attend.

Finally, I hope in the very near future that I will be posting the following sign: THE NEW DESKS ARE ARRIVING! HELP NEEDED! Yes, after many months of waiting, we anticipate the delivery of our new classroom furniture in the very near future. Believe me, we will need any and all help to uncrate, assemble/adjust and move the new furniture into classrooms. Likewise, we will need help in moving the old furniture out of the classrooms. Hopefully, we will have a day of advance notice. Please, when you see the sign, know that we will need a great deal of help! Additionally, we anticipate the delivery of our new computers in the next few weeks. All of these items are being purchased through the Federal Restart Funds. This program, as you know, was begun to help all schools (public and non public) purchase materials and items that were lost, destroyed or damaged due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Isn’t the new pavement wonderful? It is so nice to be able to walk across the blacktop and not trip on cracks and ruts. The grass in the field is beginning to grow and we look forward to the day when we can once again run across chasing soccer balls. And have you seen the new doors in our cafeteria and at our eastern entrances? All of these improvements were made possible through FEMA reconstruction funds. We are so grateful to those who made this all possible.

Report cards will be distributed on Thursday, January 17th. Although we do not have formal parent/teacher conferences set for this marking period, know that you are welcome to contact your child’s teacher for an appointment to meet regarding your child. I will be meeting with each child, as well, to talk about progress and concerns that they may have.

Every little bit helps…! Thank you, Winn Dixie shoppers for your participation in the Community Partners program. Our school recently received two checks through the program…totaling nearly $1,000.00. Our thanks to you and to Winn Dixie!

May this new year of 2008 bring your family many blessings of health, of happiness and of peace. May God continue to guide us as we work together.

/s Sister Mary Jo