Dear Parent,
Happy New Year! May this new year bring all of our families much peace, love, and an abundance of blessings!
This Sunday, January 28, we begin our annual observance of Catholic Schools Week. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of celebrating Catholic Schools. The national theme this year is "Catholic Education: United in Faith and Community". During this week we will gather together for many activities. We will remember those who support our school and thank God for the blessings he has given to the St. Vincent de Paul School community.
This year’s theme supports the idea that Catholic education not only provides a strong Catholic based education but invites all of us to work together to not only foster a strong community within our school/parish, but to also look outside ourselves, our school, and parish to help others. This was very evident during Advent when our students and families went above and beyond to support EPS. That unwavering support will help many young mothers and their children. Thank you in advance for supporting our dress down day for our sister school in Guatemala today!
As many of you know I had the privilege of attending a Catholic school from kindergarten through graduate school. Today I know that having the opportunity to live my faith daily in a Catholic environment helped shape my beliefs and values. I am eternally grateful to my parents for believing that Catholic education would provide a strong Faith, academic excellence, life-long friends, and an on-going life of service for my siblings and me.
On Thursday, December 21, Duncan McGuire, a former student and currently a professional soccer player, called and asked if he could come by and visit. Duncan currently plays as a forward for Orlando City Soccer Club. Duncan toured the school, saw his former teachers, and briefly visited with the 7th and 8th grade students. When I asked him if he felt comfortable talking to the students, he said he was. What caught my attention and the attention of others is he talked about the friends he made at SVdP. I thought he might mention his accomplishments in college (which are many) and his rookie year, but he only talked about his years at SVdP and how the friends he made here are still his life-long friends. Needless to say, his words were touching and really summarized one of the many aspects of the life-long impact of Catholic education—a family forever.
Our school would not be the great place it is without our teachers and staff. A very special thank you to our teachers and staff for their dedication and service to the students, families, and each other. Daily, they respond to a variety of situations and always want what is best for each child. I know you all know we are blessed with our teachers and staff!
Thank you for the commitment and sacrifices our parents, parishioners, and staff make to ensure that each child entrusted to our care receives the best possible education rooted in faith and service!
On behalf of the entire staff, I would like to thank all of our parents, students and supporters and assure them of our gratefulness as we continue to strive for excellence, spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and physically. We are very grateful!
Have a wonderful February.
Dr. Barbara Marchese Principal
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A Dozen Reasons to Choose Catholic Schools (from NCEA/National Catholic Education Association)
1. We offer an education that combines Catholic faith and teachings with academic excellence
2. We partner with parents in the faith formation of their children.
3. We set high standards for student achievement and help them succeed.
4. We provide a balanced academic curriculum that integrates faith, culture and life.
5. We use technology effectively to enhance education.
6. We instill in students the value of service to others.
7. We teach children respect of self and others.
8. We emphasize moral development and self-discipline.
9. We prepare students to be productive citizens and future leaders.
10. We have a 99% high school graduation rate. 85% of graduates go to college.
11. We cultivate a faculty and staff of people who are dedicated, caring and effective.
12. We provide a safe and welcoming environment to all.
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Catholic Schools Week 2024January 28 - February 2, 2024
Saturday, January 27- Sunday, January 28: Catholic Schools Week kickoff!
Students are asked to wear their school uniforms to Mass this weekend.
Show your school pride and gratitude to our parishioners.
The Awesome Angels Children’s Choir will sing at the 9:00 Mass.
Immediately following the 7:30, 9:00, and 11:00 A.M. Sunday Masses, children from the 5-day school will help the Knights of Columbus host a pancake breakfast. We would appreciate having students in grades 4-8 volunteer to help. Please click HERE by January 25th to sign up if your child would like to volunteer for this opportunity. We ask volunteers to wear their school uniforms. We hope you will join us!
Monday, January 29
Please send a rosary to school with your child. K-8 students, teachers, and staff will gather in the church to pray the rosary together.
Students are asked to show their SVdP school pride by wearing a white shirt (students whose homeroom numbers end in a 1), blue shirt (rooms that end in a 2), or red shirt (rooms that end in a 3). Instead of uniform pants or skirts, students may dress down on the bottom.
Classroom winners from grades 4-8 will compete in the school spelling bee at 2:00 P.M. Parents of contestants are welcome to attend.
Tuesday, January 30
There will be an all-school Mass at 8:15 A.M.
Each grade level has been assigned a specific color to wear today. Students may dress down on the bottom. Colors assigned are as follows:
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Students in grades 4-8 will attend an internet safety assembly in the afternoon.
Wednesday, January 31
PIZZA LUNCH! Thank you to Nancy Maiers and Mr. Bentzen for organizing this special event. Order forms were due Wednesday, January 17 but will be accepted until January 19. Please see mailing from Monday, January 8, to order.
As a reminder, students may eat only at the times designated below:
K & 1: 10:50 A.M.
2 & 4: 11:30 A.M.
3 & 5: 12:10 P.M.
6-8: 12:45 P.M. (6th grade usually lunches earlier but will eat at 12:45 P.M. that day)
Teacher Switch Day! Teachers will switch classrooms for a period and help students from other grade levels create valentines or write letters for the San Ildefonso students and residents of local nursing homes.
Dress in your favorite team jersey or shirt! Students may dress down on the bottom. Please note change of theme for the day.
Thursday, February 1
Students will learn about a day in the life of a priest.
Eighth grade students will join other Omaha-area Catholic school eighth grade students as Archbishop Lucas celebrates a special Catholic Schools Week Mass at St. Cecilia’s. More information has been sent by eighth grade homeroom teachers.
Thanks to our SPREE package winner, the Shoemaker family, who selected the dress down theme for today It’s “Just got out of bed day!”
Please follow the guidelines below (in addition to normal dress-down day guidelines):
• If pajamas are worn, they must have a top and bottom. No pajama dresses or night shirts may be worn without pants. Any pajama bottoms worn must go to at least the knee.
• Any logos must be appropriate.
• Tops must have sleeves.
• Slippers are acceptable, but students should bring appropriate shoes for PE and dismissal time.
• Robes are acceptable (uniform or dress-down day guidelines must be followed underneath the robe).
• Footie pajamas are acceptable (if your young child cannot go to the bathroom independently wearing footie pajamas, please do not have him or her wear them). Feet should have some type of non-slip surface on the bottom.
• Loose sweats are acceptable.
• There may not be any writing on the rear-end area of the pants.
This day is designed to create school spirit, and we need your cooperation in following the guidelines so that this is a fun day for everyone. Even if they are wearing pajamas, their dress must be modest and appropriate for school.
Friday, February 2
School dismisses at noon this day.
Crazy hair and sock day! Please note that some hair products may stain clothing; proceed with caution. Students should not bring any hair supplies to school. Uniform shorts may be worn today. Students will gather in the gym for a friendly competition.
Other activities taking place during the week:
• Each student will have a “prayer buddy” for the week. They will pray for that student during Catholic Schools Week.
• Students will participate in three fun competitions against the other homerooms in their grade (different grade levels will do this different days, depending on space availability).
• We will “Get Up & Move” during the week!
• It is SVdP week at Pizza West (the nearest location is 123rd and Maple). Meet your friends and their families for pizza and fellowship! Monday through Thursday, please mention SVdP when you order, and Pizza West will donate 10% of your bill to SVdP. This money will be sent to our sister school in San Ildefonso.
• Please include the staff and students of San Ildefonso in your family’s prayers.
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2024-2025 Registration for grades 1-8 will begin February 9th. There are 2 steps to register your child for the 2024-2025 school year: First log on to your Parent PowerSchool account, and then update your child’s Ecollect registration forms. **Now is a good time to make sure you can log into your Parent PowerSchool account** All families will receive an email from FACTS on February 9th. Pay the registration fee of $500.00 per child and sign up for the 2024-2025 tuition payment plan. If this causes a hardship for your family, please contact Dr. Marchese at marcheseb@svdpomaha.org to make payment arrangements. All forms are due on March 1st. If you have questions, please contact Ray Bentzen, bentzenr@svdpomaha.org, for PowerSchool questions; Courtney Eden, edenc@svdpomaha.org, for general questions about the registration process; and Angela Garrett, garretta@svdpomaha.org, for questions about FACTS.
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Progress Reports
Progress Reports will be sent home with students in grades K-2 on February 5, 2024. Hard copies of Progress Reports will not be sent home for students in grades 3-8. Teachers in 3-8 will have grades updated in PowerSchool by February 5.
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Optional Parent/Teacher Conferences
Optional Conferences for grades P-8 will be held on Thursday, February 15, from 1-6:30 P.M. Conference times for all teachers will be by appointment only.
Teacher request forms/emails for conferences will be sent on Monday, February 5. Online sign up forms for conference times will be available on February 5 (links provided via an Emma mailing on that date). Time slots that are available will have a “Sign Up” button; times that are unavailable will be labeled “Full.”
Teacher break times during conferences:
3:30-4:00 P.M. - Grades P-3, Mr. Dunn, Mrs. Sullivan, Mrs. Fosbender, Ms. Bousquet, Mrs. Kaiser, Mr. Pflaum, Mrs. LeMense, Mrs. Price, and Mrs. Warneke.
4:00-4:30 P.M. - Grades 4-6, Mr. Leever, Mr. Polacek, Ms. Kolberg, Mr. Boone, Mrs. Kuhr, Mrs. Maenner, Mrs. Skudlarek, Mrs. Heavey, and Mrs. Miller.
There will be no school on February 16 and 19. Teachers will have an inservice and workday on February 19.
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Teacher Appreciation Week
The week of March 11 is Teacher Appreciation Week. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents and students to acknowledge all the effort the teachers make on their behalf. Notes from students and parents are keepsakes long after a student has graduated. Please take a few moments to express your gratitude. Thank you!
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Get Your Pictures in the Yearbook!
The yearbook staff invites students and parents to submit photos for the yearbook. If you have great photos of school events, we'd like to see them. Help us get as many photos as possible to create a terrific book everyone will want to have.
If you'd like to share your pictures with our yearbook staff, click here to view instructions.
Thank you in advance for helping make our yearbook the best it can be!
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