The Sentinel - Volume 8, Issue 33

Posted Wednesday, April 30, 2008

With warm temperatures and bright sunshine, last Thursday was a beautiful day for the 3rd Annual Race for Education. It was great to see the enthusiasm of the students as they ran their hearts out over the course of the hour long event. While the Race remains a strong source of revenue for our school, it also provided a wonderful opportunity for students and parents alike to demonstrate their school pride and celebrate the goodness of our community.

Without the support of our parent volunteers, such an event would never be possible. From managing the three water stations to hole-punching the runners’ cards at the end of each lap, the many volunteers played a key role in making this year’s Race a success. I also want to thank all of the moms, dads, grandparents and friends who turned up in numbers this year to support our students. With an even larger crowd of parents than prior years, the event is growing in momentum and is recognized as a time to both raise funds and build community.

I wish to also thank the owners and employees of Rita’s Ice Cones & Shakes, who not only donated flavored ices for the children but also spent part of the day with our community distributing servings to runners at the end of the event. I hope that you will remember Rita’s Ice and the support their organization provided to our school the next time you are thinking of ice cream on a hot day. (For more information about Rita’s, including location and hours, please visit www.ritasicemanassas.com)

A word about prizes ~ Students who earned Dress-Down Day passes may redeem them on any Thursday during the month of May, unless attending a class field trip or special program. When redeeming a Dress-Down Day pass, students may simply report to school wearing jeans, comfortable slacks or shorts. The attire, while informal, must be modest and appropriate for our school setting. Students may redeem “Pretzel Cards” on Tuesdays and “Ice Cream Cards” on their regularly assigned ice cream purchase days.

Contributions in support of the Race continue to arrive at All Saints each day. Later this month, after all of the proceeds have been tallied, I will update you as to how much money we raised and the amount of funding we will be able to provide to St. Jude’s. Again, thank you for your support of our 3rd Annual Race for Education.

Race for Education Total (as of April 29th) ~ $28,283……... and climbing!

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On Sunday evening, approximately 700 supporters of Catholic education gathered at the Tysons Hilton for the 13th Annual Catholic Business Network Awards Dinner and Auction. The Catholic Business Network (CBN) is comprised of local business leaders who meet on a monthly basis and provide grassroots support for the work of the diocese. At the annual Awards Dinner, each school in the diocese is invited to nominate key volunteers who have made a significant contribution to the life of the school. I am pleased to announce that two individuals from All Saints received special recognition for their commitment to our program. Mrs. Tamara Halstead was honored in recognition of her donation of time and talent in designing and maintaining our school website. Over the course of the past several years, Mrs. Halstead has created a website that beautifully communicates important information about our school and that is updated on a weekly basis. Mrs. Beth Ross, PTO President, received a Grand Prize Award in recognition of her commitment to the Race for Education. Mrs. Ross served as the coordinator of the event for the past two years, successfully coordinating the implementation of the program and generating more than $100,000 in revenue for All Saints. As a result, our school has been able to purchase 23 ACTIV Boards for the classrooms. Thank you, Mrs. Halstead and Mrs. Ross, for truly making a difference in our school community and congratulations on this wonderful recognition! Please click on link at then of newsletter for a photograph taken at the CBN Awards Dinner.

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As you are aware, Mrs. Stewart (5th grade teacher) delivered her baby girl several weeks ago and I am pleased to report that both she and her daughter are in good health. Mrs. Stewart has decided to extend her leave through the remaining weeks of the year in order to enjoy additional time with her newborn child. As such, Mrs. Bennett will continue in her role of long-term substitute teacher through the close of this year.

With only seven weeks remaining in the year, I am very confident in Mrs. Bennett’s abilities and commitment to sustaining the solid measures she has already implemented. During her two months in the program, she has worked very hard to enhance the already established management strategies and to maximize instructional time. Her continued presence in the classroom will provide a sense of continuity as we approach the close of the school year as well as an opportunity for her to conclude the good work she has begun in earnest.