Please check back here regularly for updates from:

Mrs. Therese Hayes
Principal

JANUARY NEWS

Happy New Year!  May God bless you abundantly in the coming year!

     Thank you for your generosity at Christmastime!  I have often admired the picture of our Blessed Mother holding her infant son Jesus and a baby lamb.  Now I have a copy that will always remind me of fond memories at SPPS.  (What you saw was a small example of your gift, since it hadn’t arrived yet at “program time.”)  I thank you for the gift of you and your children, without whom we would not have our wonderful little school.

SECOND QUARTER HONORS  We are proud of our students, especially those who try to do their very best academically.  ALL A’s:  Caleb Sinele, Sean Lynch, Kyle Scheetz, Olivia Hinojosa, and Madeleine Nuebel.  ALL A’s & B’s:  Emma Knipe, Mary Richards, Elizabeth Walker, Joshua Caruso, Cecie Crozier, Joey Gambrell, Andrew Harris, Logan Koechle, John McIlmoil, Tommy Caruso, Paige Hopp, Katlyn Pollock, Danielle Scheetz, Colton Durand, and Allen Tebbs.  Well done and Congratulations to all!!

AR  December was a short school month and filled with many activities, but our students still found some time to read.  The first and second graders came out on top again in December!  Congratulations!

ACTS OF RANDOM KINDNESS  Students to be honored for “putting others first” in December are Cecie Crozier, Caleb Sinele, and Mason Burling.  They will receive their t-shirts at the Friday, January 8th Mass.  Thanks for being examples of Christian thoughtfulness!!

BIRTHDAY DAY  Those born in January are Elizabeth Walker (6), Kody McGhghy (19), Caleb Sinele (25), Joe Sullivan (25), Colton Durand (30), Emma Knipe (31), Mrs. Sinele and Fr. Szydlik.  We will celebrate on Wednesday, January 13 at lunch time.

JOHN LANCASTER SPALDING SCHOLARSHIP FUND GRANTS  Information about the John Lancaster Spalding Scholarship Fund Grant procedures for the 2010-2011 school year is available on the Diocesan website www.cdop.org :  Click on Education; then on Office of Catholic Schools; and then on Spalding Scholarships.  The  FACTS Grant & Aid Application is available at www.factstuitionaid.com. Families of students currently receiving grants are to be reminded that all grants are for one year only, and anyone seeking to renew a grant for 2010-2011 must re-apply.  The application deadline is February 15, 2010.  Notification of grant awards will be made by April 15th.    

KEEP SAVING  Don’t forget about saving Box Tops for Education and Campbell’s labels.  We received a check over vacation for $397.50, so all of those coupons really do add up to something!  Don’t forget about SCRIP cards.  They are just as usable now as they were before Christmas!

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK  Catholic Schools: Dividends for the Future  This exciting week will be celebrated the first week of February.  Plan now to attend the special kick off Mass on Sunday, January 31 at 8:00 a.m.  Information will be sent home soon about Jump Rope for Heart, the Book Fair, and all of the fun activities.

CSW Committee:  Angee & Lane Sinele, Katie & Dan Bendlage, Margaret & Bill Schneider and Amy & Jim Sullivan

BASKETBALL HOME GAMES  We have 2 home basketball games to be played at SPPS.  Concession stand committee for Thursday, January 21 (6:00 p.m.) is Neva & Darren Koechle, Trina & Pat Lynch, and Chris Crozier; for Saturday, February 6 (1:00 p.m.) is Susan & Tony Knipe, Elizabeth & Bryan Scheetz, and Laura & Bryan Finch.  If you cannot fulfill your duty it is your responsibility to find a replacement.  If you have any questions, please call Katie Bendlage at 217-755-4350.

ORGAN DEDICATION & CONCERT  Please join us on Sunday, January 10 at 3:00 p.m. at Sts. Peter & Paul Church for the dedication of our new 1874 E. and G.G. Hook & Hastings Pipe Organ.  The concert will feature the Cathedral’s organist, Sherry Seckler, the organ builder, Phil Hoenig and our own Sts. Peter & Paul Choir.  It promises to be an hour of beautiful music.  There will be a reception at SPPS following the concert.

REMINDER:  We will have school on Friday, January 15 (N-C does not).  There is no school on Monday, January 18 due to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Day.

How you can help . . . .

SCRIP  The scrip program is a very easy way of raising money for our school without costing anyone anything extra.  Our money comes from a percentage of the retailers’ profit.  As an example – if you buy a $50 Hy-Vee card from us, you get a $50 card and Hy-Vee gives us 5% of the $50 card or $2.50.  That may not seem like much, but if every family at SPPS bought a $50 card that would be $100 profit in just one week (not counting all of the other cards that might be purchased). 

MAX DOLLARS  If you shop at County Market, this is an easy way to help us earn money.  County Market gives us a percentage of your purchases if you use a Max Card.

BOX TOPS & CAMPBELL’S LABELS  We do collect Box Tops for Education and Campbell’s Labels for Education.  This is another easy way to help us!  Just clip the box tops or the UPC from Campbell’s and send them to school with your child. 

TARGET CREDIT CARDS  If you often shop at Target, a percentage of your purchases will be sent to us periodically throughout the year, if you use their credit card.