School Starts in One Month!

New Tile in Hallway

The 2018-19 school year is about one month away.  So, get your vacations in while you can.  We plan to start fast because we've got a lot to accomplish.  Now, let me get you caught up on last week's progress.

It finally happened.  Fr. Ernie and I have had our first disagreement.  I stated in my last blog that I really like the Hallmark Channel and their Christmas movies.  Fr. Ernie stated at Mass this weekend that he really dislikes the Hallmark Channel and their Christmas movies.  This is going to be a tough one for us to get over.  Maybe I'll just have to watch fewer Hallmark movies and Fr. Ernie will have to find a couple he would be willing to watch.

New Tile in Hallway

The tiling and painting of the school continues.  Cleaning, waxing, and coating the new tiles started this weekend.  The work on renovating the kitchen continues, too.  Lots of work going on.  The school is looking good!  Thanks to all those involved from donors to organizers to workers.  You are making great things happen.

We hired a math teacher!  When Mrs. Dickens mentioned to me that she might not be returning to St. Ann, I only had one person in mind for this position.  Well, this person has agreed to teach middle school math at St. Ann.  I'm excited for St. Ann and the students.

Julie Langford, a St. Ann parent and parishioner, will be our new middle school math teacher.  We worked together at CBHS.  She is one of the best math teachers I have ever observed.  She has lots of middle and high school teaching experience.  Mrs. Langford knows where our students need to be and how to get them there.  She is a no-nonsense teacher who will push the students to succeed while being compassionate with those who need extra help.  She has experience with differentiated learning from her time at CBHS, and will provide our students with what they need.

Mrs. Langford has been reviewing the math books to see what would be best for our students in getting them ready for high school math.  If financially possible, we hope to make middle school math text book changes this summer.  We will continue reviewing this week to find a solution.

The other changes being made at this time are in the front office.  Selina Trouy is moving over to Lynn Stricklen's position dealing more with finance.  Amanda Bannister is moving from the classroom to take Selina Trouy's position in the front office.  I've been in education long enough to know that the school goes according to how well the front office operates.  School morale and customer satisfaction begins with the folks in the front office.  With that being said, I want the two best people possible running the front office.  I am extremely pleased Mrs. Trouy and Mrs. Bannister have said yes to running the front office and being the face of St. Ann Catholic School.

The class schedules have been completed for 6th-8th grade.  For PreK-5th grade, the schedules are almost complete.  All the specials (Art, P.E., Music, and Computer) are scheduled including lunch.  The grade level teachers for each grade will plug in ELA, Math, Religion, Science, Social Studies, and Recess into the schedule.

We have eliminated the A,B,C Days and have just A Days and B Days; alternating days.  Physical Education and Art will alternate, as will Computer and Music for grade levels PreK-5th.  6th-8th will alternate Physical Education and Art only because they will have Music/Choir every day.  6th-8th do not have computer class.  5th grade will also have Music/Choir every day as well as computer class on alternating days.

Middle School M,T,W,F Schedule

Time	6th Grade	7th Grade	8th Grade
8:00	Homeroom	Homeroom	Homeroom
8:10	Math	Language Arts	Science
9:10	Language Arts	Science	Math
10:10	Science	Math	Language Arts
11:10	Choir/Band	Choir/Band	Choir/Band
12:00	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
12:25	PE/Art	Social Studies	Religion
1:05	Religion	PE/Art	Social Studies
1:45	Social Studies	Religion	PE/Art
2:25	Extras	Extras	Extras
2:55	Pack Up	Pack Up	Pack Up
3:00	Dismissal	Dismissal	Dismissal

For grades 6-8, the schedule on Thursday changes a little because we have Mass in the mornings.  Language Arts, Math, and Science will be shortened to 40 minutes instead of 60 minutes.  This still gives each of the core subjects 280 minutes per week.  None of the other classes will be shortened on Thursdays.

Fr. David Knight

Recess has been eliminated for middle school but Extras have been added at the end of the day.  We will have more information on the Extras soon.  Lots of ideas for Extras are still coming in from the teachers.  The middle schoolers will enjoy and benefit from the Extras.

We hope to have the schedules posted on our website this week.

The parent/student handbook for 2018-19 is also complete.  We will have the handbook on our website this week.

Priscilla Williams is organizing the staff spiritual retreat for the fall.  We will be guests of Fr. David Knight at His Way Retreat Center in Frayser.  The retreat center is next to the Poor Clare's Monastery.

Gary Wilbers

We might be in luck as far as a presenter is concerned.  Nationally recognized inspirational speaker, Gary Wilbers with Ascend Business Strategies, contacted me last Thursday, and has offered to lead our spiritual retreat.  We will take time this week to see if his presentation fits our spiritual retreat needs.  I am confident we will work things out.  Gary is a great friend from Jefferson City, MO.  His passion for many years has been Catholic education and Special Olympics of Missouri.  To learn more about Gary Wilbers, check out his website, https://goascend.biz/, as well as his blog, podcast, and newest book Positive Culture Wins.  I read his book earlier this year.  Loved it!

Nick Scully

In last week's blog, I mentioned that we are still on the negative side of the budget by $50,000.  The accountants out there are curious as to our plans for this -$50,000 because you cannot have a budget that doesn't balance.  Here's the solution: We have been ultra-conservative on the fundraising side and I want to keep it this way.  This week, we are meeting to put together our development committee led by Nick Scully.  Nick is also a great friend who wants to see St. Ann succeed.  Nick is the guy who sees both sides as green.  In other words, there are positives and opportunities; no negatives.  Love his way of thinking.  Learn more about Nick at http://www.therightdirection.com/about/team/nicholas-scully.aspx.  So, the answer to our budget deficit is Nick Scully, Angela de Jong, and our soon to be development committee.  I hope to also be a part of the solution.

We need your continued prayers and support.  Please keep our students and staff in your daily prayers.  We need some prayer champions out there leading the way.  Please click on the school logo to help support financial.

 Thank you.

God bless you,

Didier Aur, Principal

St. Ann Catholic School