Catholic Schools Week 2015 January 25 – January 30, 2015

Catholic Schools Week 2015 January 25 – January 30, 2015 Dear Parents: Catholic Schools Week is one of the highlights of the year at Holy Spirit. We have planned a variety of activities for the students and hope you will support us in celebrating the 41st anniversary of this annual event. The attached schedule provides details on some of the week’s festivities. “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service” is the theme of the annual National Catholic Schools Week celebration. The theme highlights the facts that not only are schools communities themselves; they are also part of many other communities, including families, parishes, cities and our country. In addition, the theme focuses on key components of Catholic education: faith development, academic excellence and dedication to service. These elements set Catholic schools apart from other educational options. They are why families make sacrifices to provide a Catholic education to their children. Please join me during this Catholic Schools Week in saying thank you to those who help make Holy Spirit a success: our teachers, staff, administrators, parents and volunteers. Through the dedication and commitment of the Holy Spirit community, our students are learning in a community of faith, academics and service that is preparing them to always set the bar just a little higher within their families, communities and the Catholic Church. Blessings always,

Maureen Ashby Principal

Schedule of Events Sunday, January 25  9:00 Parish Mass o Please join us in celebrating Mass with the Holy Spirit parish community. Students are encouraged to show their school pride by wearing their uniform.  Open House for prospective families from 1:00 – 2:30pm in the school. Monday, January 26  Look for your parent “thank you” in the morning carpool line.  Prayer Service – 8:30am Tuesday, January 27  “Service Day”  Students with their “buddy class” will participate in a service project throughout the day. o Students will put together Power Packs for Food for Others. Attached is a list of items each grade is responsible for donating. Students may start bringing in their items next week with all food donations due by January 21. o I will need parent volunteers for organizing and helping students pack the food. If interested please email me at [email protected] Wednesday, January 28  “Faculty and Staff Appreciation” Day  This is a great opportunity for your student(s) to write a note of appreciation to their teacher(s). Thursday, January 29  “Student Appreciation” Day  Dress-down day  All school movie/popcorn in the afternoon Friday, January 30  “Clergy Appreciation” Day  9:00am School Mass  Students will honor not only the work that Father O’Donohue, Father Peter, Father Carroll and Deacon LaDuca do within the school and parish community, but also the efforts of those involved with the parish Religious Education office and youth ministry.

Power Pack Program (P3) What is Food for Others? Food for Others is Northern Virginia’s primary safety net for food when an emergency strikes, and for the growing number of working poor who are unable to make ends meet and need to supplement their inadequate food supplies. Food for Others is a non-profit 501(c)(3) food bank and food rescue operation, working to help those in Northern Virginia who are food insecure. Northern Virginia is such a wealthy area, yet, we still face a poverty rate of 5%. This means, based on US Census figures, that 90,183 persons are living in poverty, 30% of whom are children. In FY2014 Food for Others distributed more than 80,000 Power Packs. P3 allows us to provide elementary school aged children with a pack of food they can bring home and eat over the weekend. Many children in our area have little or close to nothing to eat between their lunch at school on Friday and the breakfast that is served Monday morning. The pack, which contains 2 items each for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus 2 snacks and 2 drinks, will help alleviate the child’s hunger and allow them to focus more on their school work.

Our school goal is to package 800 Power Packs for needy students. Please no items with peanuts because of food allergies. I will need parent volunteers on Tuesday, January 27 to help students with the service activity. If interested please email me at [email protected] Pre-K  Each student should bring the following items o 3 boxes of Capri Sun (any flavor NOT Roarin Waters) Kindergarten  Each student should bring the following items o 2 bags of Raisins (snack size, 14 count) o 1 package (4 count) of Mac & Cheese (microwaveable) st 1 grade  Each student should bring the following items o 4 boxes (6 count in each) of TruMoo (shelf stable milk, any flavor) nd 2 grade  Each student should bring the following items o 6 packages (4 count in each) of Mac & Cheese (microwaveable) rd 3 grade  Each student should bring the following items o 6 packages (4 count in each) of Mac & Cheese (microwaveable) th 4 grade  Each student should bring the following items o 6 packages (4 count in each) of Mac & Cheese (microwaveable) th 5 grade  Each student should bring the following items o 1 box (valupack) of Welch’s Fruit Snacks (contains 22 individual snacks) o 2 boxes (12 count in each)of Nature Valley granola bars (Oats ‘n Honey) th 6 grade  Each student should bring the following items o 5 packages (4 count in each) Fruit cups (in their own juice)- NO applesauce th 7 grade  Each student should bring the following items o 3 boxes (8 count in each) Nutri Grain bars (apple cinnamon, strawberry or blueberry) th 8 grade  Each student should bring the following items o 3 boxes (10 count in each) Individual Oatmeal packets (any flavor)