IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL HOME SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
JANUARY 2012 NEWS
Happy New Year! Wasn’t the Christmas Pageant beautiful! Thank you so much to Mrs. Reisman, Mrs. LaMassa, Ms. Gizzo and all of the teachers who worked with our children to present such a special gift to our school community.
As we start 2012, all of us on the Home School Association are very excited about the events coming up over the next several months. We hope you are looking forward to the Centennial Gala! This is our largest single day fundraiser of the year and a really fun evening. Planning is underway and our committees need your help. This is a great way to become involved and to support our school!
Here are the updates from our January HSA meeting:
From the FATHERS CLUB:
ICS FAMILY BOWLING DAY – will be held on Sunday, January 15th 12 – 2 PM at Homefield Bowling Alley. Ticket information will be distributed this week. The event is limited to 80 people, first come first served for purchasing tickets. All tickets must be purchased prior to the event. The ticket will include 2 games of bowling, a slice of pizza and a soda.
FATHER SON FOOTBALL - January 22nd Fathers, sons or any other interested guys in the church community come together to watch the AFC/NFC championship games and socialize. Food and beverages provided. Crafts and video games will be available for the boys. Flyers and raffle ticket information will be sent out shortly. Items to be raffled this year include a flat screen TV, Kindle Fire and Kindle Touch. PLEASE NOTE: this event is open to boys of all grade levels, however an adult MUST accompany the students and watch them/be responsible for their behavior during the event. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED: a few students needing service hours may assist with the event and a couple of moms would be helpful as well. We also are looking for anyone who would generously lend a video game system for use during the event.
The Father’s Club would also like to announce the date for the Fall West Point Trip, Sept 15. Hold the date. Thank you to the Father’s Club, and especially Alex Woodin, for finishing the paint job in the cafeteria. The remaining flat screen TVs are expected to be hung in the next few weeks and then will be connected for TV/DVD/Computer use.
THE MUSICAL – This year’s Musical, Dancing Through the Decades: 1940 – Today will be held on Saturday February 11 (7 pm) and Sunday February 12 (2 pm) at Tuckahoe School’s auditorium. Dress rehearsals will be held on Thursday Feb 9 and Friday Feb 10. Ticket information will be distributed shortly. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED for scenery as well as to work back stage during the show/rehearsals. If your child is in the show, check the SchoolNotes site for the rehearsal schedule. Please be prompt when picking up students from rehearsal. Any student not picked up on time will be sent to aftercare.
DINNER DANCE GALA –This year’s Gala is fast approaching. It will be held on April 20 at the VIP Club in New Rochelle. Weather permitting, cocktail hour will be held outside this year. We need VOLUNTEERS for the committees: raffles, journals, and to wrap baskets. We are looking for Prizes … do you work for a business that will donate? Do you have items at home to donate for prizes? Can you and your class/friends put together a basket? Our major source of income for the event is journal ads. Please ask any business you deal with to advertise in our journal. Contact the HSA at icsisthebest@yahoo.com if you can help.
REVIEW OF DECEMBER EVENTS
CHRISTMAS BOUTIQUE –this year’s boutique was our highest earning ever, bringing in $2800. Thank you especially to Jennifer Friedman and the Milano Series for their generous product donations.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA – was a wonderful event as usual, earning $1,089. Attendees enjoyed the addition of the magician this year. Thank you to the Teamsters for their generous donation of stuffed snowmen for the children.
FATHER/SON EVENT: On January 23rd, fathers, sons, and other interested men in the parish will gather in the cafeteria to watch the AFC/NFC championship games. There will be food, beer, activities for the kids, as well as a raffle of a big screen TV, a MacBook Computer, and an IPOD.
MANDATORY RAFFLE UPDATE Raffle book fees are due by March 15th. The cost is $250 per book. Please be sure to keep the large ticket and return the book with your information written on it with the payment. Checks should be made out to ICS. Send payment in an envelope to the main office, Attn: Susan Tiso, Raffle Books. Be sure to include your child’s name and grade. Be sure your tickets are returned on time to be included in the raffle. Winners will be pulled at this year’s Gala. Any payments not returned will be added on to tuition.
A WORD FROM OUR PRINCIPAL
Ms. Harten reported on the following items during the meeting:
SMARTBOARDS: The school has received 9 new Smartboards, thus we are in the process of playing “musical Smartboards” with our older models. Older boards will be moving to the specials rooms and new boards installed in classrooms over the next few weeks. Once this project is finished, EVERY classroom and meeting room, including Pre-K will have a Smartboard. The only instructional room that will not have one is the library, which does not have the electrical capacity.
FOOD DRIVE: ICS will participate in the archdiocese food drive “Feeding our Neighbors” January 22nd – 29th. More information will follow.
SCHOOL CREST: A new Crest has been developed for the school (the Tao Cross). A pin has been developed and will be presented to all 8th grade students during Catholic School’s week in a special Mass. Parents will be invited and a reception will follow. This will become an 8th grade tradition. More information on the creation and meaning of the crest will be distributed closer to the ceremony.
E-READERS: 5th through 8th graders may now bring e-readers to school. All middle school students will be asked to re-read and sign the telecommunications procedure form.
CYBERBULLYING SURVEY: All students in grades 3-8 are being asked to participate in an anonymous cyber bullying survey. Information and a link will be provided to parents prior to the survey. Next Tuesday, all classrooms for these grade levels will have a lesson on cyber bullying. Students will take the survey during their scheduled computer classes.
MARCH FOR LIFE: January 23rd. No exams will be held this day. January is RESPECT LIFE MONTH. Generation Life has been invited to return in January to provide a prayer service for the Respect of Life.
EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT: As part of Respect Life month, Junior High students will learn about and participate in the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on January 23rd during their religion classes. Following that, a schedule will be in place to include 8th grade students on Mondays.
TUITION AND RE-REGISTRATION: Expect a letter shortly, regarding 2012-13 Tuition are re-registration.
QA DISCUSSION
Ms. Harten discussed questions, which had been submitted prior to the meeting.
Q: May students remove their sweaters during the school day?
A: Yes, if it is very warm students may remove their sweaters. The sweater is part of the uniform however, and must be with the student at all times and worn between classes for middle school students. It is always possible that students may need to leave the building due to fire drill or emergency. The uniform is designed to ensure that during the colder months, students at least have a sweater with them at all times.
Q: Who is in charge of creating the 8th grade video?
A: The 8th grade video is up to each graduating class. The only requirement is that it be created with no cost to the students. In the past, some talented parents have created the video. Other families have gone in together and hired a service to compile photos for the video. Any interested families should speak with the 8th grade class parents.
Q: What is the school’s cell phone policy?
A: The cell phone policy is very clearly stated in the student handbook. As a reminder, students may have a phone, but it must remain OFF and in their backpacks at all times. Students may NEVER have a phone on their person or in their desk while they are in the school building. That includes during aftercare. During class trips, students may bring phones but they must remain turned off and not used. If a trip is running late, students will be told to call their parents, at which point they may use their phone.
Q: What is the school’s policy on teacher use of School Notes/SIS?
A: School Notes and SIS are used as a bonus to parents. If you feel you are not receiving enough information, please address the issue with your child’s teacher. Effort and conduct are reported on the report card only and not on SIS.
Q: Can the school arrange for private bussing?
A: No, bus companies will not contract with individual schools, only school districts.
Q: Can more information be provided on the listing of After School Clubs and could Kindergarten be included?
A: We can take note of that for next semester. Age groups are dependent on the companies offering programs each semester.
The next HSA meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 1st. Please contact your class reps if you have any questions. You can also contact the HSA at icsisthebest@yahoo.com.
The Home School Association.
CHECK US OUT ONLINE www.icschoolonline.org for the school www.icshsa.org for the Home School Association icsisthebest@yahoo.com is the email address for the Home School Association
