Wildcat Weekly News 11/29/2011

THANK YOU

A HUGE SAS thank you to all of the coaches who have donated their time and talent in coaching all of our SAS volleyball and soccer teams.  You are truly appreciated; we could not do this without your commitment.  Thank you to all of the players for your time, talent, and representation of SAS.

Volleyball Coaches:
Meredith Fogleman, Fr. Luke Robertson, Michael Lauderdale, Joe Harrington, Jan Flynn, Elmo Collins, Nick Bettinger, Carole Axthelm, Katherine Hill, Bethany Collins, Leigh Landrem, Mike Irwin, Christi Johnston, Annmarie LaGroue, Amanda Patterson, Angie Watts, Cathy Elrod, Paul Gillilan, Meghan McCoy, Shawn Petrie, and Suzanne Holmes.

Soccer Coaches:
Shawn Petrie, Paul Schuder, Donna Kee, David Taylor, Margaret Taylor, Jennifer Kimmel, and Nick Bettinger.

Christmas Trees for Social Ministry

Tuesday, November 15^th – Tuesday December 13^th

Each year the students of SAS collect new, basic clothing items that are donated to the clients of Saint Andrew Social Ministry. The Home & School Association donates trees that are also taken to Social Ministry to help spread Christmas Cheer. The donations should be in the original packaging, but not gift-wrapped. Students are welcome to bring any of the items, but below are suggestions. Thank you for helping our school give warm clothing to those in need. All sizes of clothing for girls, boys, & adults are welcome!

Socks ­– Pre-School & Kindergarten
Underwear ­– 1^st & 2^nd Grades
Hats, Gloves or Mittens ­– 3^rd & 4^th Grades
Fleece Blankets & Throws – 5^th & 6^th Grades
Pajamas & Undershirts ­– 7^th & 8^th Grades

Annual Fund Update
Have YOU done your part?

As we enter the final days of 2011, we are finishing up our 2011-2012 Annual Fund Appeal.  As of November 15^th, the Annual Fund has received gifts and pledges totaling $194,000!  This is 90% of our goal of $215,000.  The Faculty and Staff participation rate is 100%!  The Advisory Council participation rate is 100%!  The SAS Family participation rate is 37%.  We would like to see the SAS Family participation rate at 100%, but at the very least, we need to see an increase over last year's participation rate, which was 62%.  By participating in the Annual Fund, you are sending the message that you believe in the mission of Saint Andrew Catholic School.  This is important when we approach foundations and corporations for grants.  Some might think that only large gifts make a difference, but every gift, of every size increases our SAS Family participation rate and gets us closer toward our Annual Fund goal!

Thank you to the 165 families who have already participated in the Annual Fund.  If you haven't already done so, please make your donation or pledge today!  Pledges are due by December 31st, but can be paid off in installments through April 1, 2012.  All students whose families have participated in the Annual Fund will enjoy an out of uniform day on January 12, 2012. If you have any questions, contact Rose Hall at 817-294-4355 or rhall@standrewsch.org.

REMINDER

With the holidays upon us please remember to use your frequent buyer grocery cards. You must show the Albertsons card EACH time you shop. SAS only made $73 from the Albertsons program for this past quarter. We believe that we have more SAS Albertsons shoppers than our quarter results reflect. Please make the effort to show the card. The Kroger and Tom Thumb cards only have to be registered one time to SAS, and then when you use your reward cards the 1% comes to SAS. This is also good for getting gas at Tom Thumb. Extra cards are available in the office. Please give to them to grandparents, neighbors, co-workers, etc. Thanks for your support of this easy program to benefit SAS.

THIS WEEK 

***Progress Notes  – Due out this week for grades 3^rd–8^th.

Mass – Feast of Saint Andrew Wednesday, November 30, 2011, 9:00 am in the church. Mrs. Cox’s class will prepare this week’s mass. Please remember to send items for the offertory for Social Ministry. Parents are welcome to mass; designated seating area for parents is upstairs in the choir loft, unless a special circumstance requires you to sit downstairs.

Reconciliation:
Thursday December 1^st ­– Grades 3 & 4
Friday December 2^nd – Grades 5 & 6
*****We encourage all SAS parents to attend our SAS (3^rd-6^th) Reconciliation Services, which take place at St. Andrew Catholic Church at 1:30pm both days.  It is a wonderful and convenient time to go to confession during Advent at these times.  God bless you all for setting such a fine example for your children to see you go to Reconciliation and accept God’s never-ending forgiveness. Confessions for parents will take place after the students.*****

Home & School Meeting – Friday, December 2, 2011 (Faculty Room) 8:15–9:15 am.

NJHS HOT COCOA SALE & Spirit Day – Friday, December 2, 2011, The National Junior Honor Society SAS chapter will be selling HOT COCOA after school.  Please come out and support NJHS!

Uniform Resale – Friday, December 2, 2011 – 2:00­­–4:00pm in the school gym.

NEXT WEEK

SAS Christmas Music Program–The 3rd grade students will present the Christmas program, MIRACLE ON MAIN STREET, on Monday, December 5, 2011.  Performances at 2:00PM and 7:00PM in the school gym.  Please come and join us in this celebration. 

Mass – Feast of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 9:30 am in the church. Mrs. Morrow’s class will prepare this mass. Please remember to send items for the offertory for Social Ministry. Parents are welcome to mass; designated seating area for parents is upstairs in the choir loft, unless a special circumstance requires you to sit downstairs.

7^th & 8^th grade Service Hours due – Friday, December 9, 2011.

NJHS HOT COCOA SALE & Spirit Day – Friday, December 9, 2011, The National Junior Honor Society SAS chapter will be selling HOT COCOA after school.  Please come out and support NJHS!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Service Hour Opportunity! The week before Christmas (December 17), Social Ministry will be distributing the Holiday Boxes that you have been working so hard to fill. If you have a student who is in 7th grade or older, he or she can be a part of this rewarding experience and earn service hours at the same time.  A parent must stay with the student and volunteers MUST BE IN 7th GRADE OR OLDER FOR CONFIDENTIALITY REASONS. Volunteers will be carrying filled boxes to cars so be ready to be on the move. Please contact Carrie at cgern@att.net if you would like to help during the following times:

Saturday, December 17 - 9:00-11:00am - Need 2 more students & 2 more adults
Saturday, December 17 - 11:00am-1:00pm – Need 1 more student & 1 more adults

NEWS TO SHARE

ST. ANDREW KNIGHTS of COLUMBUS COUNCIL 9868

SMOKED HAM FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!

Sit back and relax and let The Saint Andrew Knights of Columbus prepare a delicious fully cooked 9-10 lb. smoked ham for your Holiday gathering. Orders can be dropped off at the Church after all Masses thru Sunday December 11^th.  All hams will be available for pick up at the Parish Hall on Sunday December 18^th, from 8:00 a.m. to Noon.  Orders & payment may also be mailed. Click HERE for order form and informational flyer.

Boy Scout Troop 97 – To earn money for an upcoming BSA adventure the scouts are available for hire on weekends. The troop is offering yard maintenance and light handyman outdoor projects. We can rake leaves and remove those ugly dead bushes or small trees that have died due to the drought. Click HERE to view an informational flyer.

Wildcat Weekly Parish News

Social Ministry is collecting the stamps that Albertsons is currently giving out with purchases.  They will redeem the stamps for the Cuisinart items offered in this promotion to give to the Social Ministry families.  If you do not collect these, please give any that you earn to the office to turn into social ministry.

HOLIDAY OUTREACH 2011!—As part of our Holiday Outreach program, Social Ministry buys Christmas gifts for children under the age of 18.  If your family is interested in adopting a child from one of our parish families, please contact Janet Sepanski at (817) 927-5383, ext. 2123.  We have over 100 children on our list this year!

Saint Andrew Advent Event

Frank Runyeon presents: The 3 ½ Stories of Christmas – December 2, 2011 7:00pm in the Church Dessert reception & meet the actor following the show in Parish Hall.  Children and adults will be delighted as all the parts of the Christmas story are tied together for the first time: from the light of Creation ... to the manger in Bethlehem ...from the story of Saint Nicholas... to the secret of the Christmas Angel himself! Click HERE to view informational flyer, registration, and story line.

Keeping Our Children and Youth Safe Sessions

**Please check the diocesan website for sessions that are being offered throughout the diocese.**

Have a great week & thanks for reading the

Wildcat Weekly News!