The Sentinel - Volume 8, Issue 4

Posted Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Review of Uniform Changes ~ 2007-2008

During the summer months it was necessary to modify the uniform changes proposed for the current year, specifically in regards to the girls’ winter kilt and jumper. Although this information has previously been communicated to parents, it is important that it be published again to insure that all parents have a clear understanding of the uniform changes for this year. Again, this summary does not introduce any new information; rather it serves as a reminder of the changes introduced during the spring and summer. As announced last spring, current uniform articles will be grandfathered through the 2007-2008 school year.

Girls Winter Kilt & Jumper ~ No change. The original plan to transition from wool to polyester was eliminated in June when the school was notified that Flynn & O’Hara would be unable to accommodate us because of a change in minimum order requirements.

Middle School P.E. Uniform ~ Beginning this year, middle school students wear navy blue nylon shorts as well as matching navy blue sweatshirts/sweatpants with a silk-screened logo. The white tee shirt will continue to serve as part of the P.E. uniform.

Sweaters/Sweatshirts ~ Effective this year, middle school students will transition from the navy sweater to a navy sweatshirt. (The product will be the same as that worn as part of the P.E. uniform.)

While students will not be required to wear a sweater/sweatshirt each day, it will be expected that each student own at least one to be worn on specially announced occasions, i.e. picture day, special field trips, school-wide days of celebration, etc.

Use of Logo on Summer Uniform Shirts ~ Effective this year, students wear golf shirts with the embroidered school logo.

Uniform Ties ~ In an effort to establish a student appearance that is in fact more uniform, this year we are introducing a standard tie. In grades 1-5, students will wear a solid blue tie. In grades six through eight, boys will wear a pattern tie that coordinates with the color scheme of the winter uniform.

Tips for the New Year

Several years ago, Sr. Patricia McCormack, IHM, spoke to our parent community about strategies that support student success in school. Today she continues her work as a regular contributor to Today’s Catholic Teacher, a monthly periodical for Catholic educators across our country. In the August/September issue, she authored an article entitled Home Ways for School Days. The following is an excerpt that identifies specific procedures that can be implemented at home in support of student learning at school.

SUPPORT AT HOME

Many crucial “home ways” make a positive difference in the education of children. Parents advance their children’s education when they provide the following kinds of SUPPORT:

S = Supervise homework. Establish a time, place and space where the child reports for school work, even if he announces that there is no assigned homework on a given day. Check work for completeness and neatness. In the primary grades in particular, check also for accuracy and mastery.

U = United with school authority by complying with the school handbook and by backing up teacher decisions.

P = Provide honest, respectful feedback to both student and teacher. Inform teachers about stresses in the child’s life that may impact learning.

P = Promote responsibility and maturity in your child through chores, checklists, deadlines, and reasonable standards of performance.

O = Organize the household for school success. Provide a box for each child to store schoolbags, projects, PE shoes, etc., in readiness for the next day. Establish habits of adequate sleep that begin with a quiet atmosphere and soft lighting at least 20 minutes prior to bedtime, with no electronic media in use during that time. Plan nourishing meals, school lunches, and snacks that limit sugar intake. Teach personal hygiene skills like teeth brushing and hair care. Determine a time for daily bathing.

R = Regulate a balanced schedule to include schoolwork, play, extracurricular interests, family time, leisure, and prayer time. Limit TV on school days and limit extracurricular interests to two per year.

T = Teach your child to name, claim, and tame personal behavior; in other words, to accept ownership for his/her choices by admitting to a choice, accepting consequences without shifting blame to others, and apologizing when necessary.