News From the Eagles’ Nest
St. Dominic Catholic School www.stdominicmobile.org
Martha M. Mundine, Principal
August 20, 2008
Dear Parents,
Welcome back to school! Every year the summer seems shorter and shorter, but this year, it really was shorter than most. With that in mind, it was also a summer of many large projects at St. Dominic. Unfortunately, due to the ‘lack of summer’, there was less time than usual to finish things and many are still in progress. Thank you to all who have been so patient with our “progress”.
I know that there have been several changes to carpool procedures this year, as well as the stricter enforcement of previously existing rules. Please know that as caretakers of your children, we are only trying to do the very best we can to protect your children while they are here. The new procedures and rules were created with their safety as the first priority. Many people have put in a great deal of time over the past couple of years in the planning and executing of the projects we are finally seeing come to fruition. Our school is so blessed to have so many who care.
I am eagerly looking forward to the year ahead. I especially welcome Linda Mathias, our new assistant principal. She is proving to be an outstanding asset to our faculty, and a partner for me that I truly feel was sent from heaven!
Please feel free to contact me anytime you need to. If I am not readily available, I always try to return phone calls and reply to e-mails as soon as I am able.
I hope everyone has a fantastic school year, filled with many blessings.
Martha M. Mundine
Principal
NOTES:
- All adults (people over 18) who have contact with our students must be trained in the Child and Adolescent Protection Program through the Archdiocese of Mobile. This is VERY IMPORTANT. An adult who is not trained may not volunteer with the school children, and may be asked to leave. This is for the protection of our children. Please make every effort to receive initial training if you have not yet. The classes are offered on the fourth Tuesday of each month at St. Dominic. Those who have received initial training must update their certification annually between August 1 and October 31. This can be done by logging online to www.mobilearchdiocese.org There, all information can be found under the “Office of Child Protection”. If you do not want to do it online, you may also update by attending a regular class. Once you have updated your training, your name will be registered and renewed in the database.
- Thank you to all for cooperating as we have had to make new arrangements for carpool. At first, things were a bit unstable, but everything seems to be flowing well now. As with any major change, it will take time to get used to for everyone. Your consideration is appreciated. If you have any questions, or need a carpool map, call the school office.
- The locks/meshwork on the gates should be completed very soon. They will open in the morning at 7:30am to receive students. After the lines are through carpool and the tardy bell has rung, all gates will be shut (@7:50). This was actually started last year to accommodate the safety needs of the students walking over to gym for their first class. If your child arrives after the gates are closed, please have them check into the office.
- Reminder- all parents/visitors must check into the school office when arriving on campus to get a visitors pass.
- If your child is expected to walk home from school, please complete a walker contract and turn it in to the office. Students will not be allowed to leave campus unless this is properly filled out and approved.
- Reminder- the front of the school is considered a construction site and is off limits. It is marked clearly. Even at times when the workers are not present, no one is to enter this area. Its stability is not certain. Please respect these boundaries.
- The student handbook went home last week. It is the responsibility of all parents and students to be familiar with its contents. All families must sign the agreement form as soon as possible and return it to school. The first 3 classes with 100% participation will receive a reward. After August 22, your child(ren) may be called to the office to call you until the form is handed in. This is extremely important! All families must have this signed form on file.
- We still have payment envelopes available in the school office for those who wish to have them. What a great reminder each month to get that tuition in on time!
- The school lunch program will not begin until the August 25. Information went home regarding this last week. Please make sure to send lunch to school with your children until then. Please make arrangements for the students to bring their own lunches. Lunches that are brought to school during the day cause unneeded class interruption. Reminder- students may not have carbonated beverages.
- Our school uses the IRIS phone communication system. This system allows us to notify you of goings on and it calls/e-mails everyone at the same time. All of the numbers associated with each family will be registered (cell phones, beepers, home, work, etc.) There are five color codes to denote the severity of the announcement. For instance, if you answer the phone and it tells you that this is an IRIS green call, it is only a minor announcement, and only some of the numbers will be called. But, if you answer and it announces a red alert call, you will know that the call will be dialed on every number we have for you, and that the announcement is serious. The red would only apply to urgent messages, such as unexpected early dismissal, or other emergencies. It is very important that you notify the school office to keep your phone numbers and e-mail addresses current.
- St. Dominic has decided not to bring back Circus of the Kids this year. Due to some scheduling and monetary conflicts, along with a decreasing amount of participation, it was decided that it will not work out this year. This will be reviewed annually for renewal, so it may return in the future.
- Please consider participating in the SCRIP program this year. Many funds can be raised at no additional cost to you! If you use this program regularly enough, you may also earn tuition credits. Several of our families are already vested this year! To learn more about SCRIP, look for flyers in the Wednesday folders, or call any of our PTO officers. Orders are due in on Tuesday of each week. The phone number for the SCRIP office is: 661-4350.
- Our first regular PTO meeting is Thursday, September 25 at 7:00pm. At 6:00pm that same evening, we will host a school Open House. Please make plans to attend!
- St. Dominic is again subscribing to Edline this school year. Parents who have students in 3-8 grades will be able to keep up with current grades and other academic items. New families should be receiving activation codes shortly. If you do not get your code or if you have any questions, please call the school office. Parents of students in PK-2 may check the “goings-on” of their classes by looking on the school website at www.stdominicmobile.org.
- All employees of the parish may be contacted via e-mail by using their first initial and last name followed by @stdominicmobile.org. (Example- mmundine@stdominicmobile.org)
- Please remember our communication policy. If you have a problem with a teacher, please see that teacher first. After that, if you still feel that things are not resolved, feel free to contact Mrs. Mundine or Mrs. Mathias.
- If you shop at Office Depot, please see the enclosure in today’s Wednesday folder.
- Our school is still collecting used ink cartridges and Box Tops for Education. Please send these in. Funds raised from these programs help with our technology and Physical Education departments.
- Many parents expressed interest last spring in helping with various extra-curricular student activities. If you have time or talent and would like to help with an existing group or begin one that we do not have, please contact the school office.
- I am very excited about our upcoming Eagles Extravaganza, which will be October 11. Mark your calendars now for a great time! Tickets will be on sale shortly. Money raised last year is being used toward the purchase of a new LED announcement sign to replace the old one in the back of the school by the gym.
Upcoming Dates to Remember:
August 21- Jr. CYO Ice cream social 3:20pm-4:00pm
August 26- Child Protection training 7:00pm in the Murphy Center
August 28- NJHS meeting after school
August 29- No school: Teacher inservice day
September 1- No school: Labor Day
September 5- NJHS Officer induction following 8:00am Mass
September 9- Parent meeting- bullying program 6:00pm
September 15- ITBS testing begins (grades 3-7)
September 17- Mid quarter reports go home
September 19- Student council office induction and membership blessing following 8:00am Mass
September 22, 24- Vision and Hearing screenings
September 23- Child Protection training 7:00pm in the Murphy Center
September 25- Open House 6:00 PTO meeting 7:00
September 26- ITBS testing ends
September 26- Angels on a Mission Commissioning 8:00am Mass
October 1- Fall pictures in uniform