Headmaster’s Notes
Todd R. Flanders

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All School News
Fall Book Feast
From Fall Fun Fairs to Fall Book Feasts…mark your calendars for PA’s First Annual “Book Feast,” taking place November 19, 20, 23 and 24.  Our feast this year is all new as we partner with The Bookcase of Wayzata for delectable reads!  Keep a watch for more details as we close in on the dates.

Fall Cleanup Help Available
If you know of anyone who needs help with fall cleanup, please contact Coach Lipelt at rlipelt@comcast.net.  Football players are willing to serve the Providence community.  Contributions are not necessary, but any gifts received will be directed to the Huts for Homes project.

Flu Clinic at PA
Providence Academy will host a seasonal flu clinic on Wednesday, October 28th from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Great Room.  Ages 4 years and up are welcome.  Parents must accompany students.  Insurance will be billed directly if you have a participating plan.  If your insurance is not a provider for this clinic, the cost is $24.99.  Flu Mist nasal vaccine may be available at $32.00, if supply allows.

The consent and instructions for signing up online are on the Providence Academy website under Important Flu Information.  Please print a copy of the consent form, fill it out and bring it to the clinic.  You must also show your insurance card (or a photocopy).  Participating insurance providers are listed on the consent form. 

Sign up online @ http://www.mvnacorp.org/tc/login.do?url=providencesf.mvna.  Each member of your family will need their own appointment.  Repeat the instructions for each person you sign up.

Questions may be directed to Mrs. Murphy at (763) 258-2507 or Maureen.murphy@providenceacademy.org.

Grandparents’/Special Persons’ Day Thank You
More than 550 grandparents and special persons were welcomed to PA during the two-day event.  Thank you to the many volunteers who worked to make Grandparents’/

Special Persons’ Day such an enjoyable time for guests and students. 

Love and Logic News
Directors’ Presentation This Week
Discover how the principles of Love & Logic are at work at Providence Academy and how you can use them at home with children of any age.  The Division Directors’ Presentations begin on Friday, October 23^rd.  Join Mrs. Nancy Galgano at 2:00 p.m. in the Upper School Library as she presents Sticks, Stones and Words—Tips you can teach your kids today to help them navigate childhood relationships.  The presentations will be followed by a period of Q&A. 

New Book Group Starts in November
Learn about the basic concepts of Love & Logic, while joining other parents for group discussion.  The book group for Love & Logic Magic: When Kids Leave You Speechless begins on November 12^th and registration is limited to eight people.  To reserve a spot, please email Mrs. Frederickson.

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.  Additional information can be found in the Love & Logic section of the kiosk in the Living Room. 

School Picture Retakes
Tuesday, October 20th, is School Picture Retake Day.  Students who would like to have their pictures retaken may simply exchange their photos at the time of their sitting.  Students who have not yet had their pictures taken should bring a completed form and payment with them.  Additional forms are available in the Administration Office.

Steel Magnolias This Week at PA
Make plans to attend the Upper School Fall Play on Friday, October 23^rd and Saturday, October 24^th at 7:00 p.m. in the Great Room.  The season opens with the tender and delicate drama, Steel Magnolias, by Robert Harling.  Based on the story surrounding the death of the playwright’s sister, Harling paints a portrait of six southern women whose lives are intertwined by their life-long friendship and their once-a-week standing appointments at the local beauty shop.  Steel Magnolias pays homage to the care and sensibilities that only true friendship can provide.  Recommended for 5th grade and older. 

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.

Yearbook Orders
Don’t forget to buy a yearbook.  The cost of the yearbook is $80 through November. Order forms may be returned to Mrs. Stachour.  Please do not send checks, as student lunch accounts will be charged for the cost of the books.

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Middle/Upper School News
Bag The Basics – Middle School Service Opportunity
Middle School students are conducting a food drive for the families of Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners Organization (IOCP).  IOCP (www.iocp.org) serves individuals living in the west metro and offers programs in five areas: child care, housing, employment, transportation and community connections.  IOCP reports that their food shelves are in a crisis state and have never before been this low.  Help us help them!  A small contribution can make a big difference.

When:        Monday, October 19th - Tuesday, October 27th

Who:         Middle School students and faculty

Why:         Replenish food shelf items for families using IOCP

How:         Deliver items to Ultima teachers’ rooms. 

What:        Boxed meals, canned meat and fish, healthy snacks for 
                 kids, packaged potatoes, soups, vegetables, meal in a can, sugar, juice boxes and juice packs and other non-perishable food items.  See attached flyer for more details.

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Lower School News
4th Grade Coffee & Conversation 
4th grade parents are invited to join Mrs. Galgano for a Coffee & Conversation on Thursday, October 22nd at 2:00 p.m. in the Lower School Library.  Invitations were mailed home.  Please RSVP to amanda.gregory@providenceacademy.org.

Lower School Choir
Lower School Choir rehearsal is held on Tuesdays from 3:15 to 4:00 p.m.  

Pre-K Coffee & Conversation 
Pre-K parents are invited to join Mrs. Galgano for a morning Coffee & Conversation on Tuesday, October 20th at 8:35 a.m. in the Lower School Library.  Invitations were mailed home.  Please RSVP to amanda.gregory@providenceacademy.org.

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Athletics Update
Two Conference Championships for your Lions!
Last week both the girls cross country team and football team won conference titles!  Congratulations to both teams on their fine seasons!  The girls look to follow-up their conference title with a strong showing at their section meet on Thursday, October 29^th and the boys look for a perfect 8 and 0 season when they host Mankato Loyola on Thursday, October 22nd.  Good luck to both teams and congratulations!

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
Seniors
Coffee and College Applications is Back!  We are resurrecting the tradition started by last year's seniors by offering a series of Wednesday morning 'coffee and college apps' opportunities for the remainder of October (plus November) as seniors are busy finishing college applications.  Interested seniors, please come to the Upper School Office on Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m. (and bring your laptop).  Mrs. Hogan will be available to help with applications (including resumes, essays, supplements, scholarship/honors, etc.) and coffee and snacks will be provided (or bring your favorite!).

Reminder: Seniors must complete the Transcript Request Form (distributed to seniors in early September) two weeks before the posted admission deadlines. It is okay to complete the request form while you are still working on your online portion of the application. Also, remember to send your ACT and/or SAT scores directly from the testing companies.  If you have questions about application processes or components, please come to 'Coffee and College Applications on Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m. or schedule a meeting with Mrs. Hogan before/after school, during lunch or study periods.

Additional college visitors will continue to come to PA throughout the next few weeks.  If you are applying to a school, plan to stop by when their Admission Representative is at Providence Academy.  Check Family Connection, listen for the reminder announcements, and/or check out the posters outside the College Counselor’s Office.  Remember, college visit passes must be obtained from the Upper School Office no later than the morning of the day of the visit.

Juniors
Juniors who attended the College Visit Field trip last Wednesday should give feedback to Mrs. Hogan about the program so that we can decide whether or not to offer it to next year's juniors.  Also, a final note to those unable to attend the College Night on October 1st, your packets will be in your lockers to be taken home and reviewed this week. Note that the first follow up session with Juniors using the Naviance/Family Connection college counseling program will take place during Religion classes on November 12th and individual meetings with Mrs. Hogan will begin shortly thereafter.

Score reports from the PSAT will be returned to students by the College Counseling Office in December. Mrs. Hogan will let you know when your results are available. Regarding ACT and SAT preparation, Providence will offer its annual ACT Exam Prep Course the three Saturdays before the February 6, 2010 ACT Exam (Providence is a local test site) and online prep for the SAT using Method Test Prep (via Naviance/Family Connection). Information to follow.

The remaining college visitors coming to Providence this fall are eager to meet with juniors (as well as seniors). This is an easy way to learn about a college or university before deciding to visit the campus.  Take advantage of this resource but be sure to obtain a College Visit Pass from the Upper School Office no later than the morning of the visit.

Sophomores
A final note to any sophomores whose parents were unable to attend the College Night for 9th/10^th grade parents on October 7^th, your packets will be in your lockers to take home and review with your parents.  The results of October 14^th PSAT testing should be available in mid-December: 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
A final note to any freshmen whose parents were unable to attend the College Night for 9th/10th grade parents on October 7th, your packets will be in your lockers to take home and review with your parents.  All freshmen who took the PLAN exam on October 14th should receive their score reports in mid-December. 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.

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 coming weeks, juniors and seniors may visit with representatives from the following colleges here at Providence (or in the area):

Monday, October 19^th
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota – 8:00 a.m. in the Upper School Conference Room
Benedictine College – 1:45 p.m. in the Upper School Conference Room
University of Dallas – 2:30 p.m. in the Upper School Library
National Christian College Fairs – 6:30 p.m. at Minnehaha Academy – N. Campus

Tuesday, October 20^th
University of Notre Dame – 8:00 a.m. in the Upper School Conference Room
Duke University – 7:30 p.m. at the Breck School Chapel

Wednesday, October 21^st
Bentley University – 3:15 p.m. in the Upper School Conference Room
University of Notre Dame – 7:00 p.m. at De La Salle High School

Thursday, October 22^nd
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities – 3:15 p.m. in the Upper School Conference Room 

Monday, October 26^th
Iowa State University – 1:45 p.m. in the Upper School Library
Saint Louis University – 1:45 p.m. in the Upper School Conference Room

Tuesday, October 27^th
Augustana College – 8:00 a.m. in the Upper School Conference Room
University of St. Thomas – 1:45 p.m. in the Upper School Conference Room

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

Friday, October 30th
Boston University – 8:00 a.m. in the Upper School Conference Room

Monday, November 2nd
Cornell College – 8:00 a.m. in the Upper School Conference Room
Wartburg College – 1:45 p.m. in the Upper School Conference Room

Wednesday, November 4th
Gustavus Adolphus College – 12:55 p.m. in the Upper School Library
St. Olaf College – 12:55 p.m. in the Upper School Conference Room

Thursday, November 5^th
Hamline University – 2:30 p.m. in the Upper School Conference Room
Carleton College – 3:15 p.m. in the Upper School Conference Room
Winona State University – 3:15 p.m. in the Upper School Library

Saturday, November 14^th
Savannah College of Art and Design – 12:30 p.m. in Minneapolis

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