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All School News
Attendance Reporting Procedures
Welcome back to school from the Attendance Desks!  As a reminder, please call the attendance line to report your student’s absence, illness, tardy, or early dismissal. When calling because your child is sick, please call each day and include a description of their symptoms.

Lower and Middle School students will check in and out at the Welcome Desk and will wait for parents in the Living Room area. Upper School students will check in and out at the Upper School Office.

If your student is leaving early for any reason, please send a note and ask them to stop by the attendance desk before school for a pass.  We also appreciate students returning with the required admittance notes from their Doctor or Dentist appointments.  Thank you for your help!

The Attendance Line for the Lower and Middle Schools is (763) 258-5520.  
The Attendance Line for the Upper School is (763) 258-5500.

Back to School Night
Parents are strongly encouraged to attend Back to School Night, an opportunity to meet the teachers, review year-long curriculum plans, and walk through their student(s) schedule(s).  Please mark your calendar as follows: 

• Middle and Upper School on Thursday, September 10th from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.
• Lower School on Tuesday, September 15^th from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m.

Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays
Providence Academy has weekly Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel.  Spend a Holy Hour in prayer and adoration visiting Jesus and you will be greatly blessed.  Adoration will be available on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Please reply to Mrs. Nicole Bernardi at lnbernardi@comcast.net to sign up for a time.

Golf Classic Next Week
The Golf Classic is just one week away and will be held on Tuesday, September 8^th.  Be sure to submit your registration promptly!  Register your foursome, or meet new friends by signing up as a single—we’ll be glad to pair you with others.

There is plenty of room for non-golfers to join us at the evening program too, beginning with wine tasting at 4:30 p.m.  Guests are invited to browse the silent auction and then stay for the social, dinner with friends, and the awards program.  $50 per person.

Sponsorships are a valuable part of the tournament’s success and there are still openings.  This is a great opportunity for your company to be recognized on and off the course and have the chance to distribute your company’s materials. 

Silent auction and raffle donations are also needed.  Popular items include sports memorabilia, tickets to sporting events, and golf packages, but feel free to use your imagination.  Donations may be delivered to the Administration Office and donation forms can be found in the Golf Classic brochure that was mailed during the summer, and are available in the kiosk outside the Administration Office. 

For more information, or to register for the tournament, please contact Dawn Schommer at dawn.schommer@providenceacademy.org or (763) 258-2516.

The Lions Pride Goes Electronic
The October issue of The Lions’ Pride monthly newsletter will be the last printed issue distributed to all families.  Going forward, families may view the newsletter on PA’s website, by simply following the link from the Academy’s home page. 

What are the advantages?

  •  Significant savings related to paper, printing, assembly, etc.
  •  Stewardship of natural resources
  •  Immediate delivery
  •  Accessible, full-color format (PDF)

Printed copies will be distributed by request only.  Watch for complete details in the first (October) issue of the newsletter.

Library Volunteers Needed
We have a need for volunteers in the Upper School Library this year.  If you are interested, please call Mrs. Claire Commers at (763) 258-2511 and we’ll talk!  Thank you.  As always, happy reading.

Love and Logic for 2009-10
Parents are invited to take advantage of a number of educational opportunities to explore various parenting topics, based on the Love & Logic series by Jim Fay and Dr. Foster Cline.  What is Love & Logic?  A common sense approach that provides educators and parents easy to learn skills that create respect, responsibility, and good decision making in youth.  Love & Logic enables you to:

• feel more confident as parent
• have more fun parenting
• feel more relaxed at the end of the day

Book Discussion Groups
Learn about the basic concepts of Love & Logic, while joining other parents for group discussion.  Note that registration is limited to eight people per group:

From Innocence to Entitlement: A Love & Logic Cure for the Tragedy of Entitlement.  Begins Thursday, September 17^th for six weeks; 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Meeting the Challenge: Using Love & Logic to Help Children Develop Attention and Behavior Skills: Begins Friday, September 18^th for six weeks; 2:00 to 3:00 pm.

Love & Logic Lending Library
Various Love & Logic titles are available in the Upper School Library to be checked out for a two-week period: 

• Avoiding Power Struggles with Kids (DVD or CD)
• Becoming a Love and Logic Parent (DVD)
• Four Steps to Responsibility (DVD or CD)
• Helicopters, Drill Sergeants and Consultants: Parenting Styles and the Message they Send (CD)
• Love Me Enough to Set Some Limits (DVD or CD)

Please see Mrs. Commers for assistance with these items.  If you have any new or gently used Love & Logic material that you wish to donate to the Library, please contact Mrs. Frederickson.

Join the Insiders Club
Receive free online articles with special sales only available to members.  To become a member of the Insider’s Club, call (800) 338-4065 or sign up on line at www.loveandlogic.com.

Division Directors’ Presentations
Directors’ presentations will be scheduled throughout the year.  Please watch for topics, dates, and times in the October issue of The Lions’ Pride.

Contact Information
Mrs. Lynne Frederickson is the primary contact for PA’s Love & Logic offerings and she is interested in hearing from you!  For additional information or questions, to register for a book discussion group, or to offer suggestions on utilizing the books’ principles, please contact her at lynnefrederickson@yahoo.com.  Catalogs featuring Love & Logic products are available in the kiosk in the Living Room. 

Mass Schedules
This school year Holy Mass is celebrated in the afternoons at Providence Academy.  Families and their guests are welcome to attend any of the daily Masses, scheduled as follows: 

• Mondays at 2:15 – selected Lower School classes
• Tuesdays at 2:15 – Middle School
• Wednesdays at 2:15 – Upper School
• Thursdays at 2:15 – selected Lower School classes
• Fridays at 2:30           

Moms In Touch Invitation
Moms in Touch will be meeting on Thursdays again this year beginning September 17th at 8:30 a.m.  Moms in Touch International is an organization that supports groups of moms to pray for their children, their school and one another.  The group will meet every Thursday right after drop-off at 8:30 a.m. for one hour at the home of Lisa Stinchfield (16155 49th Place North in Plymouth).  We have a great time and have seen some amazing answers to prayer!  If you would like to know more about Moms in Touch, please come to our first meeting on September 17th or call Lisa at (612) 708-5291 with questions.

Scripture Study with Dr. Stevenson
Do you want to grow in your faith with other Providence moms?  Then register for Bible Study at Providence for the new school year.  The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 9^th.  Registration forms are available electronically on the PAPA website and in the Administration Office.  Please submit completed forms and payment to the Administration Office.  If you have any questions, please call or e-mail:

Joan Cummins at (952) 829-5755 or bcum11@mchsi.com
Anne Policinski at (952) 470-7819 or annemcp1@mac.com

United Way Gifts Designated for PA

Fall marks the beginning of the United Way campaign in the Twin Cities.  Remember:  Providence Academy is an eligible 501(c)3 recipient of United Way contributions.  In other words, if you contribute to the United Way campaign via a one time gift or by payroll deduction, you can designate the Academy as the beneficiary of your donation. 

Providence Academy is also an eligible nonprofit recipient of employer-matched gifts.  If you and your employer team up to make tax-deductible contributions to PA, the school will benefit doubly.  And your family gets full credit for the doubled gift—including membership in our Lion Rampant Society for total gifts of $2,500 and above.

Gifts provide major support for need-based financial aid, arts and athletics, faculty development, and more.  For assistance with completing United Way pledge forms, contact Mrs. Dawn Schommer at dawn.schommer@providenceacademy.org or (763) 258-2516.
 

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Middle/Upper School News
Fantastic Travel Opportunity for Spanish Students
The Spanish department is going to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands in June 2010.  Experience the Amazon Basin Jungles, the majestic volcanoes of the Andes and the unique wildlife of the Galapagos.  Parents and students (Spanish II and above) are welcome to attend the informational meeting held in the Lecture Hall on Monday, September 14^th from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Fine Arts New York Trip Meeting
Have you heard about the New York trip?  PA’s Fine Arts Department is going to NYC for spring break!  Current 10th-12th grade students and their parents are invited to attend an informational meeting Tuesday, September 15th at 7:00 p.m. in the Upper School Atrium. Questions?  Please contact Ms. Zak.

Upper School Fall Play Auditions
Announcing Auditions for the US Fall Play, Steel Magnolias.  Auditions will be held in Ms. Zak's room September 2^nd-3^rd.  Audition packets are available on Ms. Zak's web page and students may sign up for an audition time in W106.  Want to be involved, but don't want to be on stage?  Much help is needed backstage, too!  All 9th-12th grade students are eligible to participate.

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Athletics Update
All-School Athletics Kick-Off Pancake Breakfast
All are invited to kick off fall athletics at the Pancake Breakfast Huts for Homes Benefit on Sunday, September 13^th from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Joe Senser’s Restaurant in Plymouth.  The event will raise funds for Huts for Homes, benefiting those in need.  Plan to join us to build the Athletics family at PA and promote school spirit!  Each team can bring a DVD to be played on the big screens.

Tickets are $6 in advance and are available for purchase at Providence Academy and from coaches; $8 at Senser’s on the day of the event.  Checks may be made payable to: International Foundation.

Can you help?  Coach Lipelt seeks a donor to provide coffee and/or milk for the event.  Additionally, a ticket sales coordinator is needed.  To volunteer for either request, please contact Coach Lipelt at rlipelt@comcast.net or (763) 473-5549.

How to Receive Sports Communication
The best way to receive information at home about upcoming events and driving direction is to utilize the Providence Academy website.  Simply go to http://www.providenceacademy.org and click on the rSchoolToday Calendar link.  Information can also be obtained by calling the Sports Hotline at (763) 258-2580.  The Hotline is updated daily and contains all of the day’s information and happenings.

Schedules and Directions to Away Events
Both schedules and directions to away events can be found on the Providence Academy website at http://www.providenceacademy.org  From the home page, simply click on the rSchoolToday Calendar link.  Then select a sport from the View Schedules list on the right side of the page.

Weather-Related Cancellations
In the event fall athletic schedules change, the Sports Hotline is updated by 2:00 daily.  Please call the Hotline at (763) 258-2580 for the latest information.  The rSchoolToday Calendar will also be updated as soon as information is available.

Webcast America
www.webcast50.com is the place to go this fall for varsity athletics.  For ease of access, there is a link on PA’s home page to the Webcast America site.  Note all games and events on the site remain available to view for a calendar year.  Check out all the action you may have missed on Webcast America. 

Results
Looking for results for Providence Athletics teams?  Visit the Providence Academy website and click on the rSchoolToday Calendar link.  From there, select the blue tab labeled “Scores/Standings.”

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College Counselor's Corner
A warm welcome back to all returning Upper School students and to all new students! Mrs. Hogan is pleased to share the first in a series of exciting enhancements in the area of college counseling.  This past month, we had our first ever optional College Essay/Application Workshop (“Bootcamp”) for rising seniors, with more than half of the class attending.  Also, we will begin our second year of sending students’ transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other supporting documents for college applications electronically, saving valuable time and resources.  Seniors will attend a required lunch session on requesting transcripts within the first few weeks of school.  Stay tuned for more!

Seniors
Mrs. Hogan will continue meeting with seniors in the coming weeks to review each student’s final college list and to answer any questions about essays, resumes, scholarships, financial aid, interviews, college entrance testing and other college-related topics.  Seniors, now is the time to schedule an appointment!  As always, parents are welcome to attend.  The annual no school days of MEA Weekend will be October 15^th and 16^th, and is a great opportunity to visit or revisit schools to which you plan to apply.  If you plan visit a college campus, notify the Admission Office at least two weeks in advance so that they can make plans to schedule a worthwhile visit, including attending classes, meeting with faculty, students, and staff, etc.  Please note that many Minnesota schools generally will not grant admission interviews over the busy MEA Weekend but may have special programs scheduled.  Check the web sites of the individual colleges for more information.

Juniors                                                                                            
All juniors and their parents are invited to attend the Thursday, October 1^st College Night for important information on starting the college search process in earnest.  We are aiming for 100% participation in this event.  Also, on Wednesday, October 14^th, all Providence Academy juniors will take the mandatory PSAT exam.  Again, this exam is the pre-test for the SAT college entrance exam and the National Merit Scholarship Competition.  The upcoming October school break (MEA), October 15^th and 16^th, is a great time to visit colleges.  Many Minnesota schools have special programs scheduled over the MEA Weekend.  Check the college websites for more information.

Sophomores  
All sophomore parents are invited to attend the Wednesday, October 7^th College Night for important information about the college process.  All sophomores will take the mandatory PSAT Exam on Wednesday, October 14^th.  The PSAT is considered a practice exam for tenth grade students.  The results should be used to determine areas of academic strength and the areas in which each student may want to improve.  Sophomores will take the PSAT again their junior year, when their scores will be entered into the National Merit Scholarship competition. 

Freshmen
All freshmen parents are invited to attend the Wednesday, October 7^th College Night  for important information about the college process.  All freshmen will take the mandatory PLAN exam on Wednesday, October 14^th.  The PLAN is a pre-ACT exam administered to help familiarize students with college entrance test content and format, to give them a feel for timed testing, as well as to help them identify areas of academic strength and weakness. 

Upcoming Events
College Night- Freshman and Sophomore Parents: Wednesday, October 7^th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Upper School Lecture Hall

College Night - Junior Students and Parents:  Thursday, October 1^st, at 7:00 p.m. in the Upper School Lecture Hall.   

College Visits
Please note that all college visits may be viewed on the college visit calendar in Naviance/Family Connection.  Members of the Providence community may access this information by logging in as a guest (password: lions) at: https://connection.naviance.com/providenceacad.

In the next several weeks, juniors and seniors may visit with representatives from the following colleges (students should sign up in advance through Family Connection and must obtain a College Visit pass from the College Counseling Office to attend):

Tuesday, September 15th
Michigan Technological University – 1:45 p.m. in the Upper School  
     Conference Room

Thursday, September 24th
Drake University – 1:45 p.m. in the Upper School Conference Room 

Monday, September 28th
University of Portland – 8:00 a.m. in the Upper School Conference
     Room
Saint Mary's College – 8:00 a.m. in the Upper School Conference
     Room
Hillsdale College – 2:30 p.m. in the Upper School Library
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – 2:30 p.m. in the Upper School
     Conference Room

Tuesday, September 29th
St. Norbert College – 10:30 a.m. in the Great Room
College of the Holy Cross – 1:45 p.m. in the Upper School Library
Kalamazoo College – 1:45 p.m. in the Upper School Conference
     Room
Bradley University – 3:15 p.m. in the Upper School Conference Room

Thursday, October 1st
Stonehill College – 2:30 p.m. in the Upper School Conference Room

Friday, October 2nd
Connecticut College – 8:00 a.m. in the Upper School Library
Colorado State University – 2:30 p.m. in the Upper School Library
Providence College – 2:30 p.m. in the Upper School Conference
     Room

Monday, October 5th
The University of Montana, Missoula – 8:00 a.m. in the Upper School
     Conference Room
University of Southern California – 1:45 p.m. in the Upper School
     Conference Room
Northwestern University – 2:30 p.m. in the Upper School Conference
     Room
Indiana University at Bloomington – 3:15 p.m. in the Upper School
     Library

Monday, October 19th
Benedictine College – 1:45 p.m. in the Upper School Conference
     Room

Tuesday, October 27th
Augustana College – 8:00 a.m. in the Upper School Conference Room

Wednesday, October 28th
Regis University – 3:15 p.m. in the Upper School Conference Room

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