In This Issue:
Headmaster’s Notes

All School News
     All Band Concert
     All Strings Concert
     Educational Outfitters - New Location
     Influenza Information from Mrs. Murphy
     Kitchen Position Available
     Love & Logic News
     Parenting Education Opportunity
     Reminder: Formation in Christian Chastity

Middle/Upper School News
     7th Grade Lions' Club Meeting this Week
     Attention: 12th Grade Parents
     Iowa Test of Basic Skills
     Middle School Snow Tubing Rescheduled
     Minnesota Mathematics League Contest Results
     Ski & Snowboard Club Reminder
     Upper School Winter Field Day Tomorrow

Lower School News
     3rd Grade Service Project
     Iowa Test of Basic Skills
     Lower School Choir News
     Pre-K Parent/Teacher Conferences
     Running Club
     Save the Date for the 3rd - 5th Grade Concert
     Term II Progress Reports

Providence In The News
     Providence Academy Students Win Regional Science Olympiad
          Awards

Providence Academy Parent Association (PAPA)

Athletics Update

Headmaster’s Notes
Todd R. Flanders

Exciting news from Athletics: First, having been chosen from a pool of students representing 56 schools in our region, Katie Finley has been named the female Region 4A Triple “A” Award winner for the 2007-08 school year. Triple “A” stands for excellence in arts, academics and athletics; the award program honors high school seniors who excel in all three areas. This is the highest award given by the Minnesota State High School League.

Providence Academy is also proud to announce that Katie Huot has been named Athena Award winner for the Class of 2008. The Athena Award is given to a top female athlete in a high school, and Katie will be acknowledged along with all of the other winners at a luncheon on Friday, May 9^th at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Congratulations, ladies, on the fine recognition!

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A reminder to families that applications for need-based financial aid are due on March 1^st at the end of this week. Providence Academy uses TADS, Tuition Aid Data Services, for financial aid applications and forms are available in the Student Services Office, or one may fill out the electronic form at www.tuitionaid.com. We acquire financial aid funds from the generous donations of our community through the Annual Fund and the spring gala. Financial aid priority is given to high school students and current families that run into short-term financial difficulty.

For more information, please call Mrs. Nancy Shaeffer at (763) 258-2504.

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Again this week, PA is pleased to present some wonderful opportunities for parents. Tonight, all are invited to attend a brief PAPA meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall. Stay afterward for Dr. Steve Kahn’s presentation on understanding developmental realities. This talk, his final presentation of the school year, begins at 7:00 p.m.

In addition, Dr. Arthur Hippler of the Upper School Religion Department is offering a series of Lenten talks on “The Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ in the Theology of St. Thomas Aquinas.” Presentations take place tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday this week from 8:30 to 9:10 a.m. in the Lecture Hall. Parents are welcome to attend all presentations or any individual session that their schedules allow.

Finally, Mr. Kevin Ferdinandt invites all dads to join him on Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. as he shares a father’s and administrator’s perspective on fathering with love and logic. Come to explore together how to raise responsible, self-motivated children from cradle to college. A presentation will be followed by dessert and Q&A. All men are welcome! Please RSVP by tomorrow to Mrs. Kelly Wilder at (763) 258-2587 or kelly.wilder@providenceacademy.org.

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All School News
Academic Letter Banquet Rescheduled
The Academic Letter Banquet has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 26^th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Room. Please RSVP by Friday, March 7^th, to Mrs. Kelly Wilder at (763) 258-2587 or kelly.wilder@providenceacademy.org with number of guests attending.

All Band Concert
Everyone is invited to attend the All-Band (5^th Grade Band, Middle School Band, and Upper School Band) Sacred/Classic Concert on Thursday, March 6^th from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Great Room. This free performance will feature works by Bach, as well as Native American music. Please come out and support our fabulous instrumentalists!

All Strings Concert
Join us for the All Strings Concert on Tuesday, March 4^th at 7:00 p.m. in the Gallery. Performers should check in at 6:30 p.m. that evening, dressed for the concert (Sunday best for Lower School; Middle and Upper School students in all black attire). Everyone is invited to enjoy the sounds of our wonderful musicians.

Educational Outfitters – New Location
Education Outfitters is under new ownership and will move to a new location on April 1^st. The store will be located at 5710 West 36^th Street in St. Louis Park (corner of Highway 100 and 36^th Street).

Influenza Information from Mrs. Murphy
January and February are historically peak times for influenza activity. Reports from the CDC indicate an increasing trend of influenza activity since early January. This trend is slightly higher than the past few years. We are seeing an increasing trend of illnesses at Providence as well, but more typical of what we saw last year. It’s a good time to remind our kids to practice good health habits:

Kitchen Position Available
Taher Food Service is currently offering a part-time position in the school kitchen. Responsibilities include food preparation and serving. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, please contact Mr. Marshall Morris at (763) 258-2535.

Love & Logic News
Because of the growing interest in Love & Logic, past and current participants in the book discussion groups, as well as those who have read the book on their own, are invited to come together monthly to fine-tune their parenting skills. This month, our meeting will focus on ways to help our kids handle teasing and put-downs. The discussion will take place on Monday, March 3^rd, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Seminar Room. Future meetings will also be held on the first Monday of the month.

Parenting Education Opportunity
Save the date of Friday, April 18^th, for “Reflections on Contemporary Brain Research and Raising Children,” presented by Mr. Ferdinandt. Please plan to join us from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the Lecture Hall for this highly informative talk.

Reminder: Formation in Christian Chastity
Parents of students in Grades 1 through 8 are reminded to return the Parent Verification Forms for the Archdiocese to the Administration Office by Monday, March 3^rd. The green forms were mailed to families in January along with Formation in Christian Chastity materials and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Safety Guide.

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Middle/Upper School News
7^th Grade Lions’ Club Meeting this Week
Attention 7th Graders! You are invited to the 7th Grade Lions' Club meeting on Friday, February 29th, from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. The Lions’ Club is an activity for Middle School students to enjoy fellowship, fun, and food with their peers and Upper School volunteers. Come to Miss Zak's room after school and enjoy spending time with one another, watch a movie, play games and have a short bible study while we eat pizza.

The Lions’ Club is directed by senior Michael George and his crew of Upper School volunteers, and will be supervised by Mrs. Semsch and Mr. Trexel. All 7^th Graders are welcome! Permission slips will be handed out in Ultima and can be turned into Mrs. Semsch or Mr. Trexel by Thursday, February 28^th.

Attention: 12^th Grade Parents
Information for the All Night Senior Party went out last week. Unfortunately, some of the pieces were damaged in mailing and may not have reached all intended recipients. If you did not receive this information, please email Janet (Hendrickson) Hines at janet.hhines@gmail.com and she will see that you receive it.

Iowa Test of Basic Skills
6^th and 7^th Graders participated in the Iowa Test of Basic Skills this morning. Tomorrow, students will attend regular classes during Periods 1 through 4; beginning with Period 5, 6^th and 7^th Grade students will report to their Ultimas to complete testing. Parents are asked to help their students by encouraging a full night’s sleep.

Middle School Snow Tubing Rescheduled
The Middle School snow tubing trip to Elm Creek Park Reserve, originally planned for Catholic Schools Week, has been rescheduled for this Wednesday, February 27^th. New signed consent forms are required for everyone. For Middle Schoolers who have already paid, no additional payment is required. Those who have not yet turned in payment will be billed the $15 cost on their student account.

Students will eat at school during their regular lunch period, from 10:50 to 11:15 a.m. Buses will depart PA at 11:20 a.m. and return to school at approximately 3:00 p.m.

Minnesota Mathematics League Contest Results
This past Tuesday, February 19^th, our Middle School honors math students participated in the Minnesota Mathematics League (MML) Contest. The MML is dedicated to bringing challenging math materials to students, stimulating interest and confidence in mathematics.

All students who competed in the contest should be commended, but special congratulations go to the top 5 scorers for each grade! 6^th Grade: Scott Stankey (38 out of 40!), Vittorio Orlandi, Patrick Buehler, Brendon Boldt, and Henry Hoes. 7^th Grade: Max Baird, Nick Heise, Andrew Murnane, Alex O’Neill, Charlie Christianson and Katherine Walls (tie). 8^th Grade: Evan Steinhauser, Winton Kingman, Alex Cucci-Luck, Melanie Pulles and Grant Norell.

Ski and Snowboard Club Trip Reminder
The last Ski and Snowboard trip of the season will be Saturday, March 1^st at Spirit Mountain in Duluth.

Upper School Winter Field Day Tomorrow
Students will spend the entire day at Afton Alps, either skiing or snow tubing. Providence Academy will provide transportation and lift tickets for all students—the only cost to students will be lunch, snacks, and equipment rentals (if needed).

Providence In The News

Providence Academy Students Win Regional Science Olympiad Awards
PLYMOUTH, MN (February 14, 2008)
Providence Academy recently hosted the west suburban Regional Science Olympiad tournament. All the students put their best effort forth in order to claim places in the State Tournament. (Click here to view the press release in its entirety.)

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Providence Academy Parent Association (PAPA)
Auction Items Needed
Thank you to all who have donated auction items for the 2008 Spring Gala—your generosity is amazing. In order to reach our goals, the Gala is still in need of both silent and live auction items. This year’s event will fund several items deemed a priority to our school including a media press box, upgrading all technology for teachers and students, and items for the Lower School expansion.

Forms are available in the school office or you can email Kelly Bellini at kelly@grseppala.com to request a copy. We want to include all auction items in the program, so please return your form by March 25^th.

Faculty Treats Request - From Allison Adducci
Please help me in showing our wonderfully talented and dedicated staff how much we appreciate all that they do. I would like help in providing a treat at each faculty meeting. It could be a baked good, chips and dip or a veggie tray—let your imagination run wild! Most meetings occur on Mondays and Wednesdays. Just have the treat to the main office by 3:30 on the day of your choice. To pick a day, please contact Allison Adducci at (763) 509-0160 or adducci@mac.com

Grandparents'/Special Persons' Day
Invitations for grandparents/special persons have been sent home with students. This PA tradition is a highlight of the school year for everyone involved! Many parent volunteers are needed to make this day special for students and visitors, so please consider contributing your time.

Guests of Middle School students will be invited to join us from 11:05 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and guests of Upper School students will visit from 11:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 10^th. Guests will visit the Lower School on Friday, April 11^th according to the following schedule: 8:30 to 11:15 a.m. (Kindergarten and 5^th Grade), 8:55 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3^rd and 4^th Grades) and 11:35 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (1^st and 2^nd Grades).

Guest Registration Forms and Parent Volunteer Forms should be returned to Mrs. Gregory in the Administration Office by Wednesday, April 2^nd. Please be aware that a limit of two guests per student is necessary, due to space limitations in the school and parking lot.

College Counselor's Corner
Seniors
College Applications Update: Seniors should continue to update Mrs. Hogan on all admission and scholarship decisions they have received thus far, not only for tracking purposes, but also for advising on next steps. Also, colleges will review seniors’ mid-year transcripts to be sure seniors are continuing to make satisfactory progress. Students should be aware that unsatisfactory progress can result in a rescinded offer of college admission and scholarships.

Scholarships and Financial Aid: Be aware of all deadlines on submitting financial aid paperwork (e.g., the FAFSA and CSS
Profile). Helpful financial aid information can be found on the following sites: www.fafsa.ed.gov (FAFSA) and www.profileonline.collegeboard.com (CSS Profile).

Juniors
Summer Programs: Juniors interested in summer pre-college programs (e.g., National Youth Leadership Forum, Notre Dame Pre College Programs, Harvard Summer SSP, etc.) should contact Mrs. Hogan about offerings, requirements and deadlines.

ACT and SAT: Juniors should register for at least one ACT and one SAT exam in the spring (www.actstudent.org for ACT or www.collegeboard.com for SAT). Mrs. Hogan recommends that juniors who have not yet taken the ACT register for the April 12^th or June 14^th exam dates. Students may register at www.actstudent.org. Juniors who have not yet taken the SAT should sign up for the May 3^rd or June 7^th exam dates. For test preparation options and suggestions, please contact the College Counseling Office.

Parent Insights Reminder: Parents of juniors, please take some time to compose your answers and plan to complete the questionnaire before student/parent college counseling meetings in February and March. Click the link below or copy it into your browser to access the survey (be sure to click ‘submit’ when finished):
http://connection.naviance.com/fc/go.php?t=b2xnQitqaE1FSW89&m=&e=11475&r=0&i=6035&END

Sophomores and Freshmen
Update: Sophomores who took the PSAT and PLAN in October and November received their score reports on February 15^th.

Headmaster’s Notes
Todd R. Flanders

Congratulations, ladies, on the fine recognition!

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Educational Outfitters – New Location
Education Outfitters is under new ownership and will move to a new location on April 1^st. The store will be located at 5710 West 36^th Street in St. Louis Park (corner of Highway 100 and 36^th Street).

Parenting Education Opportunity
Save the date of Friday, April 18^th, for “Reflections on Contemporary Brain Research and Raising Children,” presented by Mr. Ferdinandt. Please plan to join us from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the Lecture Hall for this highly informative talk.

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Iowa Test of Basic Skills
At various times during the next two weeks leading up to Spring Break, students in Grades 1 through 5 will take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Parents are asked to help their students by encouraging a full night’s sleep and a good breakfast in the mornings.

Pre-K Parent/Teacher Conferences
Pre-K conferences will be held on April 17^th and 18^th. Sign up forms were sent home with students last week.

Running Club
Running Club sign-up forms have been sent home with students. This is a new opportunity for your 3^rd – 5^th Grader to burn some energy while having fun with friends. To register, please return forms by March 7^th.

Term II Progress Reports
Progress reports for Grades K through 5 will be sent home with students on Monday, March 3^rd.

Headmaster’s Notes Todd R. Flanders

Congratulations, ladies, on the fine recognition!

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Educational Outfitters – New Location Education Outfitters is under new ownership and will move to a new location on April 1st. The store will be located at 5710 West 36th Street in St. Louis Park (corner of Highway 100 and 36th Street).

Parenting Education Opportunity Save the date of Friday, April 18th, for “Reflections on Contemporary Brain Research and Raising Children,” presented by Mr. Ferdinandt. Please plan to join us from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the Lecture Hall for this highly informative talk.

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Iowa Test of Basic Skills At various times during the next two weeks leading up to Spring Break, students in Grades 1 through 5 will take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Parents are asked to help their students by encouraging a full night’s sleep and a good breakfast in the mornings.

Pre-K Parent/Teacher Conferences Pre-K conferences will be held on April 17th and 18th. Sign up forms were sent home with students last week.

Running Club Running Club sign-up forms have been sent home with students. This is a new opportunity for your 3rd – 5th Grader to burn some energy while having fun with friends. To register, please return forms by March 7th.

Term II Progress Reports Progress reports for Grades K through 5 will be sent home with students on Monday, March 3rd.

Headmaster’s Notes
Todd R. Flanders

Educational Outfitters – New Location
Education Outfitters is under new ownership and will move to a new location on April 1^st. The store will be located at 5710 West 36^th Street in St. Louis Park (corner of Highway 100 and 36^th Street).

Parenting Education Opportunity
Save the date of Friday, April 18^th, for “Reflections on Contemporary Brain Research and Raising Children,” presented by Mr. Ferdinandt. Please plan to join us from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the Lecture Hall for this highly informative talk.

Iowa Test of Basic Skills
At various times during the next two weeks leading up to Spring Break, students in Grades 1 through 5 will take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Parents are asked to help their students by encouraging a full night’s sleep and a good breakfast in the mornings.

Pre-K Parent/Teacher Conferences
Pre-K conferences will be held on April 17^th and 18^th. Sign up forms were sent home with students last week.

Running Club
Running Club sign-up forms have been sent home with students. This is a new opportunity for your 3^rd – 5^th Grader to burn some energy while having fun with friends. To register, please return forms by March 7^th.

Term II Progress Reports
Progress reports for Grades K through 5 will be sent home with students on Monday, March 3^rd.