January 23rd E-Bulletin
January 23, 2012
New announcements, events, and updates.
In This Issue:
Headmaster’s Notes
All School News
Health Screening Update
Middle/Upper School News
“8th Grade Night” for Band Members on February 3rd
Dance Lessons for Annual Father/Daughter Dance
Middle School Cereal Drive Coming Soon
PA Club Sailing Team
Upper School Dance Attire
Volunteers Needed in the Upper School Library
Tri-Metro Arts Festival
Lower School News
Lower School Spring Break Camp Space Available
Athletics News
Hockey Senior Day February 11th
PAPA
Volunteers Needed to Provide Faculty Treats
Spirit Store Hours
Update on PAPA Activities in Recent Months
Campus Ministry Corner
NET Host Families Needed for Many Blocks this Semester
Save the Date for a Night with NET January 30th
Sophomore Retreat January 24th
College Counselor’s Corner
Important Class Notes
Upcoming Events
What You May Have Missed
Huts to Homes Breakfast Fundraiser
Virtus Training January 25th
Lower School Book Fair February 14t through 16th
Important Presentation on Concussions February 9th
Moms In Touch is now Moms In Prayer!
Notice: Wayzata Busing Not Available January 27th
Save the Date for the Upper School Mother/Son Event March 3rd
Fine Arts London Trip Deadline January 25th
Providence Academy Club Lacrosse
Summer Baseball Registration Open
Volunteer Requirements for All Volunteers
Sports Information
Headmaster’s Notes
We’re on the verge of something big and exciting. An all-new PA website is soon to be launched. It will bring greatly improved media with much more high definition video content; greater ease of navigation; enhanced landing pages for each division of the school. We want to share more late-breaking visual content with our current families, and offer a much better feel of the “lived experience” of PA to prospective families. Application, enrollment, and re-enrollment will all be available online.
Stay tuned for a Special E-Bulletin that will announce when the new website and online enrollment forms are live.
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“Knowledge” is, after all, in our motto! Last week our new Upper School Knowledge Bowl team placed 5th in regional competition, in a field of forty schools. In the written portion, our team placed first. Congratulations!
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And speaking of knowledge: our Upper School Science Olympiad squad made an impressive showing over the weekend at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls. Freshman Ellen Bakke took first in Chemistry Lab. Sophomores Brendon Boldt and Andrew McIntyre took 3rd in “Fermi Questions” and “Microbe Mission,” and 4th in Anatomy and Physiology. Seniors Alexa Azarian and Rachel Lunneborg took first in Technical Problem Solving, 2nd in Water Quality, 3rd in Astronomy and 4th in Dynamic Planet. Go team!
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All School News
Health Screening Update
If your child did not pass the vision screening, you were contacted by Mrs. Murphy and a follow up letter will be mailed this week. If your child did not pass the hearing screening, they will be retested on February 1st. That is also the day we will make up screening for any students absent during their regularly scheduled time.
Thank you goes out to Mrs. Karen Hillen who coordinated this event, and our 56 parent volunteers who conducted the screening. Many of those parents volunteered for multiple shifts. Others did not even have students in the grades that were screened. Those who volunteered saw first hand the importance of screening. Without your support, the school could not provide this valuable service. Thank you to everyone involved.
Middle/Upper School News
“8th Grade Night” for Band Members on February 3rd
All 8th grade band members are invited to join the Upper School Band for our first ever "8th Grade Night" on Friday February 3rd. 8th graders will join the Upper School band members for rehearsal, pizza, and pep band for the Girls' Basketball game, which is also a Catholic Schools Week Spirit Game! There is no cost for the students, and they get a free t-shirt! Let Mrs. Clark or Mrs. Haseman know if you plan to attend!
Dance Lessons for Annual Father/Daughter Dance
Ballroom dance lessons will be offered by Dr. Ferdinandt on February 20th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in preparation for the Father/Daughter dance on the 25th. Dance lessons are for both fathers and daughters.
Middle School Cereal Drive Coming Soon
In honor of Catholic Schools Week 2011 theme (Faith. Academics. SERVICE) and the Middle School's partnership with the Simpson Housing Services, the Middle School students will be conducting a cereal drive from January 30th through February 6th. Through the generous support of General Mills, PA donations will be matched box for box! All cereal will be used for the shelter guests of the Simpson House. You are invited to join the Middle School students in this community outreach project.
PA Club Sailing Team
In the spring of 2012 the PA Club Sailing Team will join the Midwest Inter-Scholastic Sailing Association (MISSA) marking the school's first forte into competitive high school sailing. All students in grades 7 - 12 from beginner to advanced level sailors are welcome to participate. Sailors will be grouped according to ability, so no experience is necessary to join the club. We will be holding an open house on Thursday, January 26th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Lecture Hall for you to learn more about this exciting opportunity. Please contact Ms. Hagner with questions.
Upper School Dance Attire
Dear Parents of Upper School Students,
Our Catholic Schools Week Winter Semi-Formal Dance will take place on February 4 at 8:00 p.m. here at Providence Academy. The following dress guidelines for admittance to the Semi-Formal dance are explained below.
Semi-Formal Male Dance Attire
- Attire must be in keeping with Providence Academy’s general requirements of neatness, cleanliness, and modesty.
- Boys must wear khaki-type pants (no jeans) or dress pants.
- Boys must wear, at a minimum, a button-down shirt and tie. Sport coats are optional.
- Boys must wear appropriate dress or dress casual shoes (no tennis shoes) with dark socks.
Semi-Formal Female Attire
- Attire must be in keeping with Providence Academy’s general requirements of neatness, cleanliness, and modesty.
- Dress cannot be too low in the front or in the back. Specifically, the front of the dress must not be lower than 4 inches below the top of the sternum, and the back of the dress must not be lower than a standard bra-strap.
- Dress must have straps.
- Dress must go at least to the top of the knee - the wearing of nylons, leggings, tights, etc. does not negate the length requirement for dresses.
- Must be dress attire (no jeans or tennis shoes).
- Dress cannot be sheer.
Students must arrive within an hour of the start time of the dance. Students arriving later than an hour will not be admitted to the dance. If a student opts to leave the dance before the scheduled end time, he or she will not be permitted re-admittance to the dance. Students who arrive in attire other than Semi-Formal attire will not be admitted to the dance.
Providence Academy prides itself on fostering and promoting a school culture informed by our Christian values. Students, therefore, are expected to conduct themselves before, during, and after the dance in a manner consistent with these values. Please consult the Parent-Student Handbook for additional details regarding student comportment at Providence dances.
Sincerely,
David Harman
Dean of Students, Upper School
Volunteers Needed in the Upper School Library
Would you like to help out in the US Library? We are in need of parent volunteers to help proctor during the school day on:
- Mondays from 12:30-2:20
- Tuesdays from 10:15-11:15
- Wednesdays from 10:15-11:15
- Wednesdays from 12:05-1:30
- Thursdays from 12:05-1:30
- Fridays from 9:20-11:15
- Fridays from 12:05-1:30
- Fridays from 2:20-3:15
For more information or to express interest, please call Mrs. Claire Commers at (763) 258-2511. Thank you!
Tri-Metro Arts Festival
The Tri-Metro Arts Festival is on Monday January 30th at St. Anthony Village High School! Providence students will be performing in the 7:00 p.m. concert (free and open to the public), and will also be represented in the festival art show!
Lower School News
Lower School Spring Break Camp Space Available
There's still space in the Spring Break Camp for Kindergarten through 5th grade students! The camp will run from Monday, March 19 to Friday, March 23 (the first week of Spring Break) from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (extended hours available from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.). Don't miss the Three Rivers Park District "camp within the camp", featuring archery, geo caching, or the group trip to Grand Slam!
Registration is due by is February 15, 2012. Camp is limited to 25 participants. Registration forms are available in the main office.
Contact Mrs. Beth Lasseter for more information.
Athletics
Hockey Senior Day February 11th
All are invited to come cheer on our seniors as we recognize them after PA’s last home hockey game on Saturday, February 11th. Any student who wears Lions Hockey, Providence Academy, Heritage Christian Academy, or West Lutheran High School apparel will get into the game FREE!
The JV game begins at 1:00 p.m. and the Varsity begins at 3:00 p.m. Don't miss our last home game of the season against Blake! Come and cheer our boys to victory!
PAPA
Volunteers Needed to Provide Faculty Treats
Providence Academy parents will show appreciation for our teachers by supplying treats at staff meetings. These treats can be as simple as veggie trays, fruit trays, cheese and crackers, cookies, et cetera. Each division has a separate staff meeting of approximately 25 people. Treats can be dropped off the day of the meeting at 3:00 p.m. in the main office.
Please go to the faculty treats link to sign up!
If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Nancy Ferreira.
Spirit Store Hours
The Spirit Store is open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. and the first Thursday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Stop by before pick-up time and check out our new items! Show your school spirit with PA apparel to wear to your favorite sporting event or school function!
Update on PAPA Activities in Recent Months:
Parent Parties: Hopefully you were able to attend one or more parent parties. They have been a great opportunity to meet parents of students in each grade!
Teacher Conference Dinners: PAPA coordinated providing the teachers dinner on all school conference nights. The teachers appreciated the meals during the long conference nights!
Teacher Christmas Breakfast and Teacher Gift: PAPA coordinated a wonderful teacher breakfast including rolls, fruit, juice and coffee for all the teachers and PA staff the last morning before Christmas Break. We also delivered a cash gift of $120 per full time teacher from all Providence parents to show our appreciation for all they do during the school year.
Upper School Father/Daughter (Feb. 25) and Mother/Son (Mar. 3) nights: Parent volunteers are currently planning both of these annual events. Invitations will be mailed closer to the event dates.
Annual Spring Gala: Volunteers are hard at work planning our Spring Gala, which will be held April 28that Wayzata Country Club. Mary and Steven Kennedy are chairing this year’s event.
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions related to PAPA, please feel free to contact Kathi Wade, PAPA President, or any PAPA Executive Committee member. We will be including information periodically in the E-bulletin related to what we’re working on, as well as general information about the Parent Association that may be of interest to the Parent Community.
Campus Ministry Corner
NET Host Families Needed for Many Blocks this Semester
Campus Ministry is still in need of many host families for the rest of the school year! Hosting Netters is an essential part of ministry at PA. Please consider supporting PA campus ministry by welcoming two Netters, male or female, into your home for 2 weeks blocks.
Host Families are needed for the Men and Women for:
- Block 8, Feb 4- Feb 18 (men only)
- Block 9, Feb 18-March 3 (men only)
- Block 10, Mar 3-Mar 16
- Block 12, Mar 24-Apr 6
- Block 13, Apr 9-Apr21 (women only)
- Block 14, Apr 21-May 6
Interested families should fill out the Host Family Info Sheet attached, or contact Miss Katie Lahti with questions or for more information. Thanks to all in advance for your hospitality and generosity!
Save the Date for a Night with NETJanuary 30th
Parents and families are invited to hear from NET Ministries, Netters, staff, families, students about this ministry at PA and its impact. You will not want to miss it! More details to come!
Sophomore Retreat January 24th
The Sophomore class will be on retreat on Tuesday, January 24that the NET Center. Retreat permission slips are available at the link and must be turned it to the Upper School Office by today.
College Counselor's Corner
Seniors
Scholarships, scholarships, scholarships! Scholarship information can be accessed through Naviance Family Connection – in the “Scholarships and Money” area, look for the “Scholarship List” tab and the “National Scholarship Search” tab. They both have valuable information! Any seniors interested in applying for the TwinWest Foundation Scholarship (and other local scholarships requiring transcripts and/or letters of recommendation) should notify Mrs. Walker. Deadline for the Twin West Scholarship is January 27th.
Please pay attention to college financial aid deadlines, especially scholarship deadlines. Most colleges have priority deadlines for filing the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile in January and February.
Juniors
It is recommended that students take sign up to take the SAT and or ACT in January/February 2012. Providence is a test center for the February and June exams. Testing is available at other locations in the Twin Cities on February 11, April 14, and June 9 th. Register online for the ACT at www.actstudent.org. Register online for the SAT (and SAT Subject Tests, if applicable) at www.collegeboard.com
Presidents Day on February 20st is a great time to visit colleges. Ideally, a visit will include an Information Session or interview with Admissions, campus tour, sitting in on a class and a meal in the cafeteria. As always, the most important thing about campus visits is to be open-minded and keep track of your own reactions to each place. Many schools require advance notice, especially if you plan to have an interview, sit in on classes, or meet with faculty.
College Visits
Save the date! Our 2012 Spring College Fair will be held during the afternoon of Tuesday, April 17th. Details forthcoming.
What You May Have Missed
Huts to Homes Breakfast Fundraiser
The Lions Football Team invites you to support Huts to Homes, a ministry that builds homes for disadvantaged families in Peru. Please join them at an upcoming breakfast fundraiser:
- Joe Senser's Restaurant and Sports Theater
- Saturday, February 4, 2012
- 8:00 to 9:45am
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Tickets: $6 each - cash or checks (made payable to: Peruvian Partners)
Tickets are available from Upper School football players and coaches or at Lions Football Boosters online. Donations are also appreciated. Because Senser's needs our numbers in advance, all ticket sales must be finalized by January 28 and no tickets will be sold at the door.
Please come and celebrate Catholic Schools Week at the breakfast and continue Coach Lipelt and Coach Harrington's tradition of supporting this worthy cause. Thank you!
If you have questions about the event, please contact Karen Richelsen, Jennifer Christianson, or Jennifer Warren.
Virtus Training January 25th
The next Virtus Training date is January 25thand will be held in the Lower School Library from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Those who wish to attend should go to www.virtuonline.org to register. Questions can be directed to Mrs. Ann Brown.
Lower School Book Fair February 14th through 16th
Providence Academy Loves to Read! Lower School's book fair is lovingly back in time for Valentine’s Day. Lower School students will be attending the fair during their school day on Tuesday, February 14th, Wednesday the 15th, and Thursday the 16th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Share the love and read with your child every day! Volunteers are most welcome to help; please call Mrs. Commers at (763) 258-2511.
Important Presentation on Concussions February 9th
If you have a child involved in contact sports, have ever been through a concussion with your child, or have an interest in learning more about concussions, don’t miss this special presentation by Dr. Brian LaBine (Allina’s Sports and Orthopaedic Specialists and team physician for Providence) and Corey Koskie (PA parent and former Minnesota Twins player). Join us at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 9th in the Lecture Hall. Come to learn what symptoms to watch for and what to do if your child should sustain a concussion, and be prepared to have a positive impact on recovery.
Moms In Touch is now Moms In Prayer!
Effective January 2, 2012, Moms In Touch is now Moms in Prayer! The ministry is the same, the mission is the same, only the name has changed. The new name more clearly and simply says what we do--pray for our children and schools. Check out the Moms in Prayer website for more information. The PA Moms in Prayer group meets every Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at 16155 49th Place North in Plymouth. Come to a meeting and see the power of prayer working at Providence Academy!
Notice: Wayzata Busing Not Available January 27th
Please note that Wayzata busing will not be available on January 27th. Families should arrange alternate transportation.
Save the Date for the Upper School Mother/Son Event March 3rd
Our third annual Upper School Mother/Son Game Night will be on Saturday, March 3rd from 7:00 p.m. until 10 p.m. in the Great Room. It will be a great time to bond with our boys as we play cards, interactive games and enjoy a nice dinner. We will be drawing tickets for prizes at the end of the evening, ranging from tickets to sports events, gas cards, gift cards and more. Any and all donations for these gifts will be greatly appreciated. Please contact Nancy Buehler to coordinate donations.
Fine Arts London Trip Deadline January 25th
The Deadline to register for the June 2012 Fine Arts Trip to London is January 25th. Join the fun now on our tour page at www.eftours.com Tour #1001749. There will be a group meeting for travelers and their parents on Monday February 6th at 7:00pm.
Providence Academy Club Lacrosse
In the spring of 2012 the PA Boy's Club Lacrosse Team will join the Minnesota Boy's Scholastic Lacrosse Association (MBSLA) marking the school's first participation in organized competitive lacrosse.
- There will be both varsity and JV level teams made up of PA boys in grades 7 through 12.
- Practices will be held on weekday evenings, and games on weekends making it possible for current letter sport athletes to also play lacrosse.
- No experience is necessary to join the club, and all participants will be able to play.
Middle and Upper School students interested in participating should return a completed PA Lacrosse registration form with payment to the Upper School Office by February 1st.
Summer Baseball Registration Open
Are you interested in playing competitive travel baseball this summer with your PA friends for Providence Academy Travel Baseball Association? Online registration will be open for 10U through high school on December 26, 2011 at www.providencebaseball.org. Tryouts are scheduled for January 25th. If you have any questions, please contact Tim Fafinski by email or phone at (952) 944-9500.
Volunteer Requirements for All Volunteers
This is a reminder that all Providence Academy volunteers need to complete the following components prior to their volunteer time: Virtus Training, a background check, and the Volunteer Code of Conduct.
To find and register for Virtus Training you can log on to www.virtusonline.org and click on “Registration”. From there, identify “St. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese”. This will take you to all sessions currently scheduled and provide instructions for registering online. Forms for background check and Code of Conduct may be obtained from the Providence Academy office.
If you complete training at a location other than Providence Academy, please let us know so that we can record that information here.
For additional information or assistance, please feel free to contact Mrs. Ann Brown by email or phone at (763) 258-2548.
2011-2012 Theatre Season
- Middle School Winter Play, The Hobbit: January 27th(Auditions November 9thand 10th)
- Upper School MSHSL One Act: January 28th, subject to MSHSL change (Auditions November 17th)
- Middle School Melodrama, Commin' Round the Mountain: March 16th(Auditions February 1stand 2nd)
- Upper School Musical, A Year With Frog and Toad: May 4th- 6th (Auditions February 7th- 9th)
Sports Information
How to Receive Sports Communication
The best way from home to receive information about upcoming events and driving direction to away games is through the Providence Academy Website on rSchool Today schedule link. Additional information can be obtained by calling the sports hotline at (763) 258-2580, which is updated with daily athletics information and happenings.
Schedules & Directions to Away Events
Both schedules and directions to away events can be found on the Providence Academy Website on the rSchool Today schedule link.
Weather Related Cancellations
The sports hotline is updated with weather-related cancellations daily by 2:00 p.m. Please call (763) 258-2580 for the most up-to-date information. The rSchool website will also be updated as soon as information is available.
Webcast America
Webcast America is the place to go this year to watch athletics online from home. For ease of access, there is a link on the Providence Academy Website to the Webcast America site. All games and events on the site remain available to view for a calendar year. Check out all the sports action you may have missed through Webcast America!
Results
Looking for results for Providence Athletics teams? Results can be found on Providence Academy Website in the rSchool link under scores and standings.
