In This Issue:
Headmaster’s Notes

All School Information
     Financial Aid Applications Due March 1^st First Round Admissions Application Deadline
     Flu Season Q & A
     Follow the Piper to the Middle School Play
     New at Providence in 2008!
     No Wayzata Buses on January 25th

Middle/Upper School News
     Introduction to Upper School for 8th Grade Parents
     Upper School Semester I Exam Schedule

Lower School News
     Lower School Choir Open to 4th & 5th Graders
     Toys for CROSS Thank-You

Providence In The News
     Quiz Bowl Competition Finds Providence Academy in the Top Ten
     Audra Kaczmarek Gobbles Up Turkey Coloring Contests

Providence Academy Parent Association (PAPA)

Headmaster’s Notes
Todd R. Flanders

It is wonderful to be back with the students as we welcome 2008 at Providence Academy! After a restful break, our first week back kicks off with some wonderful events.

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Tomorrow and Wednesday we will host this year’s Sectional Tournament for Lincoln Douglas and Policy Debate from 3:30 to 10:00 p.m. In October of 2006, PA hosted a tournament for fellow schools in Classic debate. This year’s tournament is much bigger. Now that we are a member of the National Forensic League, PA has stepped onto the national stage. Roughly 170 people will attend this year, with 110 students from area schools competing. The event is open to limited attendance; for details, please contact Mr. Michael Tiffany at michael.tiffany@providenceacademy.org or (763) 258-2583.

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Our last Open House of the school year will take place here this Thursday from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., for all grades. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to check out Providence for their children! As always, most of our new students and their families mention that they first became aware of Providence through a referral from a friend or relative.

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We are proud to announce that four Providence athletes have been recognized with Minnesota State High School League awards. Samantha Zopfi and Matt Kopp have been named Excel winners for the 2007-08 school year. “Excel” stands for Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership. It is a unique recognition program designed exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, who show leadership qualities, and who are model citizens in their community.

Katie Finley and Jimmy Simonse have been named Triple A winners for the 2007-08 school year. Triple A stands for excellence in Arts, Academics and Athletics; the program honors high school seniors who excel in all three areas. Congratulations to the winners on this fine recognition!

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Auction donation forms were sent home to families recently. Please prayerfully consider a donation for the Gala, scheduled for April 26^th. Contact Kelly Bellini or Jerry Seppala at kelly@grseppala.com, if you would like to help with the plans and preparation.

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All School News
Financial Aid Applications Due March 1^stProvidence Academy will use TADS, Tuition Aid Data Services, again this year for financial aid applications. If you would like to apply for need-based financial aid, please pick up a form in the Student Services Office or fill out the electronic form at www.tuitionaid.com. A copy of your Form 1040 and a W-2 must also be mailed or faxed to the TADS office. Families may use their 2007 tax return for the required information or can use their 2006 tax return, provided that family income has not changed by more than 5% from the prior year. This year’s TADS fee is $29.00. An extra form is required for families that own a business or farm.

Providence acquires 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.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis also offers financial aid grants to those families who have students in Catholic high schools on an archdiocesan wide basis. TADS automatically includes your application in both financial aid pools. For more information about financial aid, please call (763) 258-2504.

First Round Admissions Application Deadline
Please remind all siblings, friends and neighbors who are interested in attending Providence that the first round application deadline is January 19^th. This is also the Saturday that the Middle and Upper School entrance exam is offered in the Great Room. The test is scheduled for 8:30-11:45 a.m. and students need a reservation to sit for the exam. Students that submit their application by January 19^th, should try to complete their admissions application file by mid-February and will be notified of their acceptance status by March 1^st. Siblings that submit an application after January 19^th will forfeit their priority application status. Please call the Admissions Office at (763) 258-2502 for more information.

Flu Season Q&A
For information on influenza, Mrs. Murphy suggests visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/season.htm. This link provides helpful questions and answers that will be updated as the flu season progresses.

Follow the Piper to the Middle School Play
Don’t miss PA’s Middle School presentation of The Pied Piper of Hamelin on January 25^th at 7:00 p.m. The performance is appropriate for all ages and everyone is invited to attend. Admission is free, though donations to the Middle School Catholic Schools Week charity will be accepted at the door.

New at Providence in 2008!
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 to fine-tune their parenting skills. We will be gathering once a month to share ideas and laughs as we explore “natural consequences” in our parenting strategies. Join us from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the Seminar Room, beginning next Monday, January 14^th. Thereafter, meetings will take place on the first Monday of the month. Feel free to come for each session or whenever your schedule allows.

No Wayzata Buses on January 25^th
The Wayzata School District will not be in session on Friday, January 25^th. Therefore, there will be no Wayzata School bus transportation available to Providence Academy students. Providence buses will run their regular schedules. Please make necessary arrangements for transportation on this date.

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Middle/Upper School News
Introduction to Upper School for 8^th Grade Parents
Tomorrow evening, January 8^th, at 7:00 p.m. all current 8^th grade parents are invited to spend an evening with Mr. Ferdinandt, some graduates, some seniors, and the Upper School Department Chairpersons as they explain the opportunities available in the Upper School. Some of the topics discussed will include Upper School academics, sports opportunities, extracurriculars and college counseling. The evening’s events are designed for parents only. 8^th graders will have an opportunity to gain the student perspective in early February.

Upper School Semester I Exam Schedule
Tuesday, January 22nd
Math (8:45 – 10:15 a.m.)
Religion (10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

Wednesday, January 23rd
World Language (8:45 – 10:15 a.m.)
History (10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

Thursday, January 24th
English (8:45 – 10:15 a.m.)
Science (10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

Upper School students are asked to leave the premises after they are dismissed from the last exam each day. Students who are in the building for a school-sponsored event/purpose may remain on campus. Parents are asked to help their students by encouraging a full night’s sleep and a good breakfast in the mornings.

Providence In The News
Quiz Bowl Competition Finds Providence Academy in the Top Ten
PLYMOUTH, MN (December 17, 2007) Hayden Kunz, Alexandra Tilton, Jason Witcraft and Alexa Azarian compete in the 14th annual Eighth Grade Catholic Schools' Quiz Bowl held at the University of St. Thomas. (Click here to view the press release in its entirety.)

Audra Kaczmarek Gobbles Up Turkey Coloring Contests
PLYMOUTH, MN (December 20, 2007) Audra Kaczmarek uses her creativity and coloring skills to become a top winner in the Star Tribune's Turkey Coloring Contest for the third time! (Click here to view the press release in its entirety.)

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Providence Academy Parent Association (PAPA)
Dr. Kahn Returns to PA
Please join us on Wednesday, January 16^th, at 2:00 p.m. in the Lecture Hall for a presentation by Dr. Steve Kahn on how to keep your children safe, without making them scared of their own shadow. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

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

Teacher Christmas Gifts Thank-You
Thank you to all of the parents who participated in the donation to the teacher Christmas gifts. A Visa gift card in the amount of $100 was given to every member of the teaching staff, and a breakfast was provided for them as well. We LOVE our Providence teachers!

College Counselor's Corner
Seniors
A number of seniors have already received notification of acceptances to various colleges, yet many students are still in a waiting period for admission decisions. Colleges have said that they have, yet again, received a record number of applications, so decisions may be even slower in coming. Please be patient—the National Candidate's Reply Deadline is May 1, 2008. Please continue to notify Mrs. Hogan of the status of your acceptances, waitlists, etc., so that she might be able to advise on next steps.

FINANCIAL AID REMINDER: Many colleges have January/February deadlines on submitting financial aid paperwork (e.g., the FAFSA and CSS Profile). Please make sure you have contacted your colleges to determine these deadlines. Pay special attention to scholarship deadlines for college scholarships, as well as corporate or other “outside” scholarships.

Juniors
We have a few spots (and books) available for the upcoming Providence ACT Prep Course, which will be taught by Providence faculty on each of the following three Saturdays: January 19^th (Science), January 26^th (Math), and February 2^nd (English/Writing). This course is preparation for the February 9^th ACT exam (late registration is January 5^th through 18^th). To sign up, please stop by the College Counseling Office as soon as possible—registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mrs. Hogan will begin meeting individually with juniors to discuss college planning. Parents are invited to attend individual meetings, after receiving and submitting a parent college counseling questionnaire (which will be mailed shortly). Juniors should plan to take at least one ACT and one SAT exam in the spring. For test preparation options and suggestions, please contact the College Counseling Office.

Juniors are encouraged to continue visiting colleges, both locally and nationally. When planning a spring break trip, for example, try to include a college visit. Also, PA students do not have school on Martin Luther King Day (January 21^st) and Presidents’ Day (February 18^th), which provides more college visit opportunities, assuming that the colleges offer visits (and many do!). Please note that it is important to contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission at each college at least two weeks in advance to set up a visit, and advisable to meet with the admission representative, in addition to attending the information session and taking the tour.

Freshmen and Sophomores
Sophomores who took the PSAT and PLAN in October and November, and freshmen who took the PLAN exam in December, will receive their scores later this month.

Headmaster’s Notes Todd R. Flanders

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Upper School Semester I Exam Schedule Tuesday, January 22nd Math (8:45 – 10:15 a.m.) Religion (10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

Audra Kaczmarek Gobbles Up Turkey Coloring Contests PLYMOUTH, MN (December 20, 2007) Audra Kaczmarek uses her creativity and coloring skills to become a top winner in the Star Tribune's Turkey Coloring Contest for the third time! (Click here to view the press release in its entirety.) Return to Top

Teacher Christmas Gifts Thank-You Thank you to all of the parents who participated in the donation to the teacher Christmas gifts. A Visa gift card in the amount of $100 was given to every member of the teaching staff, and a breakfast was provided for them as well. We LOVE our Providence teachers!

Headmaster’s Notes
Todd R. Flanders

Upper School Semester I Exam Schedule
Tuesday, January 22nd
Math (8:45 – 10:15 a.m.)
Religion (10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

Teacher Christmas Gifts Thank-You
Thank you to all of the parents who participated in the donation to the teacher Christmas gifts. A Visa gift card in the amount of $100 was given to every member of the teaching staff, and a breakfast was provided for them as well. We LOVE our Providence teachers!