Dear SAP Families,
Happy Monday! For the past two weeks all our teachers have been going through routines and procedures with the students in our classrooms, and have stated clear expectations for the year ahead to make it run smoothly. In the coming days, we will also begin practicing our safety drills: fire drill, earthquake drill, and lockdown/intruder alert. You should also be practicing your own safety procedures at home, since we teach our students, “When you’re prepared, you won’t be scared!” After recess each day, we are practicing having everyone “Freeze” at the sound of the bell and whistle. Then on the second whistle blow, students should walk quietly back to their lines, ceasing from playing with any classroom balls or sports equipment and returning them to the ball monitor. Students have also been reminded to tuck their shirts and keep their hands, feet, and all objects to themselves, or it could lead to a detention. Our verbal reminder for this is “HFO.”
Now that we are in the third week of school, we are paying close attention to the dress code. All families are expected to read the handbook for uniform guidelines. Know that we will enforce the uniform policy. Three (3) uniform infractions will result in a detention, so please make sure your child is following the uniform policy, especially as it relates to hair. Find the Uniform Policy here.
Morning care starts daily at 7:30 am, when a staff member is supervising students seated on the benches. The bell rings at 7:50am and those not present will be marked tardy. Our attendance register is a legal document, so if your child is absent, please call or email the office about your child’s absence. Attendance will affect a child’s Work Habits grade and Citizenship at the trimester awards ceremony. Please be aware of all school policies and read the Parent Student Handbook online thoroughly. Some important sections to note are the Truancy Policy, Absence Policy, Christian Code of Conduct, and the Parent Student Pledge.
This year we have 2 new counselors through CPLA. They are Karina Verduzo: Mondays and Fridays and Alexi Mora: Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please sign the consent form if you wish for your child to receive services. This form is good for the whole year. CPLA counselors are on campus starting today, 8/28.
This Wednesday, 8/30, is our pastor Msgr. Sal Pilato’s birthday. Please pray for him and offer him a spiritual bouquet of Masses and rosaries. He is out on retreat through Labor Day. We are grateful to him for being an amazing spiritual leader for our parish community.
Our Fall chocolate sale kickoff is also this Wednesday, 8/30, in the Hall at 1pm. Once again we will be working with the World’s Finest Chocolates. You will automatically be entered into the Early Bird raffle if you pick up your candy boxes starting on 9/6 through 9/7 by 4:00. After 4 p.m., you can still pick up your candy, but you won’t qualify for a free ticket for the raffle for the prize of a $100 gas card. More info was sent home by Monica Torres, our PLC Lead for the Fall Fundraiser. Chocolates may be picked up on 9/6 and 9/7 in the Hall before Back to School Night. Our sale goes from 9/6-10/13 and all monies are due by 10/27.
Fall Picture Day is on 9/21: Students must wear full Mass uniform with white shirts/blouses, ties, vests, cardigans. No PE sweaters, windbreakers, or Student Government sweaters, please. We are hoping for a uniform look for the yearbook and student ID photos.
Starting this week, our Kindergarten students will be having full days, no longer early dismissal. All K-8 students will dismiss at 3 pm everyday. On Wednesday, we’ll end at 1:30 for teacher meetings. As you know, we have decided to go back to Gradelink as our main Student Information System (after being advised to do so by the Dept. of Catholic Schools), and we are still using Gradelink for grades. Parents are expected to check on grades weekly with their children to stay on top of academics. You may always set up a meeting with your teacher if you have any questions or concerns. Please sign up for notifications so you can help your child monitor grades for success.
Thursday, 9/7, is BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT at 6:30pm in the Hall for all parents/guardians. Mark your calendars! CHILDCARE IS NOT BE AVAILABLE during the meeting, so please plan to keep your children at home or they must stay with you at all times. Vicki Marsha Uniform will be on campus again on 9/7, and you can pick up your chocolates that day for the Fall fundraiser. We will have two sessions of information in the classrooms to accommodate those with multiple children: 7pm–7:25 pm and 7:30pm-7:55pm. Junior high will be meeting twice as a collective unit in the hall. 6th-8th grade parents may visit classrooms in junior high, but they will not do individual presentations in their class. Please be sure to not conference with the teachers too much afterwards so they can go home and get rest for the next day of teaching. The school will close at 8pm sharp. Parents with multiple children, please coordinate with your teachers to get packets.
Carline has been a lot smoother and controllable. Please remember to follow all speed limit requirements of 5 MPH on campus and around the school. Do not park in red zones or block the crosswalks, and please be courteous to all volunteering. We are grateful to all our PLC leads, especially those who are out on the yard making sure students and families are safe. Please do not talk to any teachers in the carline. If you would like to set up a conference or meeting, you may email them for an appointment during office hours. We are in need of parent volunteers for drop off and pick up times, please contact Jeah Avila at jeahtanavila@gmail.com to sign up.
Please stay tuned for info re: fundraising opportunities for the victims of those who were affected by the fires in Lahaina, Maui. The Student Government will announce their ideas shortly. One idea to hlep is to purchase Scrip from the school so we can send the gift cards directly to victims there. Some suggestions for folks in Maui include gifts cards to: Amazon, Costco, Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Visa.
God bless,
Angela Grey, Principal
Gabriel Reyes, Resident Principal
SCHOOL CALENDAR 2023-2024
(Be sure to always check www.stanthonygardena.org , your child’s teacher’s blog, and the Parish website at w ww.saintanthonygardena.org/parish-bulletin/ for the most current information.)
- August 30– Fall Fundraiser Kick Off, pick up chocolates at Back to School Night in Hall
- Sept 4 – Labor Day Holiday, NO SCHOOL!
- Sept 7 – Back to School Night, K-8, 6:30 pm-8pm in the Hall. Come early to sign in for credit and pick up your chocolates in the Hall from 9/6-9/7. This is the first of three mandatory parent meetings and one Parent Faith Formation meeting throughout the year. Non-participation will result in a $50 fine every time, per the tuition contract you each signed.
- Sept 16 –Keep Gardena Beautiful Day Service project 8am-12 noon, all families welcome to help, register online! 8am-Noon at www.cityofgardena.org/events
- Sept 17 – Catechetical Sunday, all families welcome! 11am Family Mass
- Sept 21 – FALL School Picture Day 8:30-10:30! ☺ (Wear your complete Formal Mass Uniforms with white blouses and Oxford shirts, cardigans, vests, and ties for Yearbook photos)
ALVARADO CATERING ($7.00 per lunch)
Alvarado Catering will continue to be our food vendor on campus. Procedures remain the same. Before each month, all forms must be turned in completed with student’s name, grade, and # of lunch choice circled on the top and bottom by the due date. Make checks payable to Alvarado Catering. You can also pay through Zelle App (Elizabeth Alvarado, 323-477-9562). Price per meal is $7.00. Each meal is served with a drink, fruit, fresh vegetables, and salad. Any questions: call Elizabeth or email her at elizabethalvarado660@gmail.com.
ALLERGIES/EMERGENCY CARDS
If your child has any allergies or serious medical concerns, please be sure to notify our office as well as your child’s classroom teacher as soon as possible. Emergency cards and contact info must be current and updated in the office as needed. IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES, WE NEED THE EMERGENCY CARDS UPDATED IN THE OFFICE…This is extremely important in order to make sure we have accurate and updated records for your child. If your child has a medical condition or has allergies, we need to know this up front and have an action plan, in case of an emergency. Any medication must be self-administered by the child or by you, and permission for us to administer medicine must be in writing. Epi-pens and inhalers should be in the office.
FORMAL FRIDAYS/SACRAMENTS
As a reminder – each Friday (unless otherwise noted) we have a Student Body Mass where the students dress in FORMAL MASS UNIFORM attire. Some students will be attending daily Mass but the formal Mass uniform is only required on Fridays. All those who are not baptized and wish to receive the sacraments this year, please notify your child’s teacher by 9/30. Thank you!
PLC SERVICE HOURS (30 hours per family/year: 10 per trimester)
As a reminder, every family is asked to sign up for up to 4 Parent Leadership Committees so you have multiple chances to fulfill your 30 family service hours, valued at $15/hour or you will be charged. If you have questions, please email the office. We may raise this dollar amount next year to $17/hr to keep up with minimum wage and inflation.
VOLUNTEERS
All visitors on campus must check in and out of the office at all times and wear a VISITOR badge. All Volunteers must be Fingerprinted through the ADLA and cleared, and have a current Virtus Training Certificate. AM and PM carline and lunch yard duty volunteers (from 12-1 daily) are needed. For safety reasons, please call before you come to the office and buzz yourself in. Do not prop the door open for anyone, especially strangers. All parents are welcome to join the SAFETY PLC to increase security on our campus.
St. Anthony – Pray for us
Leave a Reply