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June, 2008

  Important June/September Letter 

Dear Parents: 

The 2007-2008 school year is coming to a close, and now it’s time to think ahead to the 2008-2009 school year!  Before giving you all the details, we first want to thank each of you for your enthusiasm and support this past year.  Your cooperation is very important to us and helps keep Our Lady of the Snows School the great school that it is.

THIS LETTER CONTAINS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.   Please keep it in a safe place so that you can refer to it during the 2008-2009 school year.

1.             Along with this letter and your child’s report card, is a summer reading list, a book report form and basic math sheets to be memorized for children entering Grades 1-8 in September.  The summer reading book report form must be saved, filled in, and returned on the first day of school in September, because it will be included in the language arts mark for the first marking period.  The books/authors listed for younger grades are suggestions; similar books are acceptable.  Teachers of students in the junior high grades state which books must be read.  Books must be chosen from the booklist.  It is important that your child read every day.  Students will be required to memorize basic math facts and take a timed test at the beginning of the school year.  Please take this responsibility seriously so that your child will maintain the skills learned this past year.  Check out the following website for summer reading lists – http://www.teachersandfamilies.com  

2.             Tuition is payable on the first day of each month for ten months, beginning in August, 2008 through May, 2009.  Please refer to the tuition information received at the beginning of June for the amount due.  When you make a payment, you must do so with the coupons you received.   A fee of $2.00 will be charged to replace any lost coupons.  Tuition payment #1 for the new school year, due on August 1, will include the $75 Fair Share Fee, and can be made at the School Office on 258^th Street  on  July 31 or August 1 between 9:30 and 11 a.m.  Payment #2, due on September 1, can be made at the School Office on August 27 or 28 between 9:30 and 11 a.m.  Payments also can be mailed to school.  Please mark envelopes “Attention School Office” and mail payments and coupons early to insure arrival before their due dates.  Child’s full name and grade must be noted on all checks or money orders.  Cash is not accepted. 

3.                All school uniforms, gym uniforms, and shoes, which MUST be purchased from Uniformity, will be mailed to your home if you placed an order on June 6.  If you have questions, please call Uniformity at 1-516-354-8255.   You may also shop on line at www.shopuniformity.com and your order will be shipped to your home.  Students must wear their school uniforms or gym uniforms from the first day of school.  Uniform ties do not have to be worn in September and June. The students may wear their gym uniform to school each day as they did in June for the month of September.  On October 1, students must wear their regular uniform ties. 

4.             Students are to wear their gym uniforms (light blue shirt and navy shorts) to school on their gym days.  When sweats are needed, they must be plain navy blue with school logo only—no other design or logo, including “CYO” sweats.   

5.             School supply lists for September for Grades K-8 have been given out by the teachers, and they will be available online in July on the OLS website.  Please keep them for referral.  Students are not allowed to use trappers or ring-binders in school.  Eight-pocket folders for students in Grades 5-8, which can be purchased in our school office or in school supply stores, should be used instead. 

6.             School officially opens on Wednesday, September 3, 2008.                  
                  - Nursery, PreK and Kindergarten parents will receive information regarding their children’s schedules in separate letters which will be mailed home in late August.
                  - Grades 1-8 will gather in the schoolyard on Union Turnpike at 8:15 a.m. each day beginning on September 3.

                  - Grades 1-4 will be dismissed to the school yard, Grades 5 and 6 will be dismissed at the 259^th Street gate and Grades 7 and 8 dismiss to 258^th Street at 11:45 a.m. on September 3, 4, and 5.  Regular dismissal, at 2:30 p.m., will begin on Monday, September 8.
                 - The first full day of school for Grades PK Full Day to Grade 8 will be Monday, September 8, 2008, from 8:15 a.m. (8:20 for Nur. and PreK) to 2:30 p.m. (2:25 for Nur., PreK, Kgn. and Grade 1). Nursery AM and PreK-AM will dismiss at 11:00 a.m.  The Nursery PM will arrive at 12:00 p.m. and dismiss at 2:25 p.m.

                  - Parents are not allowed in the schoolyard in the morning; older students will escort the younger children to their class lines.    NO DOUBLE PARKING ON STREETS OR AVENUES NEAR SCHOOL, EVER!

7.             There will be an important meeting on September 11 for parents of students in Grades 1-8 to meet the teachers, learn of the requirements for the school year, and review the school handbook.  Information will be sent home in early September. 

8.             School bus service will be available on the first day of school and thereafter for eligible children whose parents requested the service.

                 - Parent and student should be at their assigned school bus stop by 7:00 a.m. beginning September 3.  When the morning route has been set, the bus driver can advise you of the approximate time he’ll be at the bus stop each morning.

                 - The bus will leave school around 2:35 p.m.  Until the return route is determined, a parent should be waiting at the bus stop by 2:40 p.m. and be prepared to wait about 25 minutes for the bus to arrive.  After the second full week of school, parents will know the approximate time to be at the stop each afternoon.  Please arrive at the bus stop early because the driver cannot be delayed on the remainder of his route.  If no one is at the stop to meet the student, he/she will be returned to school.

                  - Each bus student must have information taped inside his/her schoolbag showing the child’s name, address, home and emergency telephone numbers, and bus stop location.  Children in Grades K and 1 who are riding the school bus for the first time should wear a tag on their uniforms showing their names and bus stops for the first few weeks of school.  Parents should call the school office after September 3 if they have questions about the bus service.

                  - Children in Kindergarten will be able to ride the school bus to and from school beginning September 4.

                  - MetroCards for use on public transportation will be available in the school office on the first day of school for eligible students whose parents have previously requested them.  To pick up a card, a student must have a note from his/her parent requesting the card and indicating the bus routes the student will take to and from school.  MetroCards are issued for a full semester, so it is very important that students do not lose them.  Since these are not easily replaced, we ask that you supply your child with a case to carry his/her MetroCard in. 

9.             Morning Care/After Care  - Morning Care will begin on Thursday, September  4 and After Care will begin on Monday, September 8, the first full day of school. 

10.              Attendance at Mass each Saturday evening or Sunday is a very important responsibility of every Catholic family.  Children will never assume that responsibility unless it is taught by the example of their parents.  Please don’t deprive your children of learning how important the Mass and Eucharist is in their lives. 

11.            Please remember our annual Magazine Sale which will begin on November 10.  Ask family and friends to order or renew through OLS at that time. 

12.            Also remember to save your Campbells’s labels, General Mills Box Tops for Education, and printer cartridges.  Participation in these programs has brought our school very valuable equipment and cash. 

13.            PBSPARENT, a website sponsored by WNET Thirteen, contains links that will take you to a number of interesting activities via a summer newsletter.  Go to:  http://www.pbs.org/parents/special/healthysummer.html

The school office will close for the summer on Tuesday, June 24, and will be open on August 26, 27, and 28 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. 

May the blessings of our God be upon you.  It is our prayer that each of you will enjoy a healthy, safe, and restful summer. 

Sincerely,
Sister Roberta Oberle
Principal