Welcome back and Happy New Year! It was great to see the students’ faces (and new haircuts!), and after a nice 2-week break I hope all of our students and teachers are well-rested and energized for a new year full of learning! I look forward to all the exciting things that await us in 2008.

God Bless,
Olivia Carrillo
Principal

Welcome, Sr. Doris Kim
I am happy to welcome Sr. Doris Kim to our staff as our new kindergarten assistant. Sr. Doris has worked with children of all ages from preschool through high school and has worked in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Diocese of Orange, and the Diocese of San Bernardino. We are happy to have her at Incarnation School!

Uniform Policy
In your envelope, please find a copy of the uniform policy with a few updates and clarifications. This document is part of your Parent/Student Handbook.

New Homework Club Schedule
Grades K, 1, and 2: Tuesdays with Mr. Tiu
Grades 3 and 4: Mondays and Wednesdays with Ms. Ceballos
Grades 5-8: Mondays (just added), Tuesdays, and Thursdays with Mrs. Valencia

Raffle Ticket Update
Thank you for your input regarding the raffle ticket sales for the Auction Dinner. We received many great suggestions, and the PTO Board will be taking these into account as the topic is discussed at the PTO Board meeting this week. Look for updates coming soon!

Feast of the Epiphany
Today the student body celebrated the Feats of the Epiphany with an all-school Mass and class parties. Thank you to Mr. Tiu and the 2nd grade for preparing the Mass and to our room parents for organizing the parties.

Catholic Education Foundation Tuition Assistance
CEF applications for tuition assistance for the 2008-2009 school year are now available in the office. This year all Catholic schools may submit as many applications that qualify!
All applications submitted to CEF MUST meet financial eligibility based on the 2008/09 CEF Income Guidelines. Principals must still verify family income w/ tax returns, W-2s etc. Principals verify and sign the 2nd page of student’s application.
The deadline to submit applications to CEF is Friday, March 14, 2008.

Annual Respect for Life Mass
On Saturday, January 19 at 6:00 p.m. the annual Respect for Life Mass will take place at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. With the Auxiliary Bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and faithful, the community will proclaim respect for life in a joyful and moving liturgy. Before the close of Mass, there is a special ceremony during which members of the assembly bring forward candles – one candle for each life lost to abortion that day in the County of Los Angeles. For parents, this annual celebration is also an important teaching moment – a chance to share with your children our commitment to life. A discounted parking rate of $5 per car will be in effect for the event.

Looking Ahead
• Wednesday, 1/9 – Coffee with the Principal 7:45 a.m.
• 1/14 – 1/18 – ACRE testing grades 5 and 8
• Monday, 1/21 – No School: Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday


INCARNATION SCHOOL
SCHOOL UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS

The school uniforms must be worn on all school days unless otherwise specified. A student who comes to school out of uniform must bring a note of explanation from his / her parent or guardian.

Please mark your child’s name clearly on all items of clothing which may be removed during school hours, including boys’ shirts and girls’ jumpers. Lost and unlabeled items will eventually be given away. Students may wear only plain white T-shirts under the uniform shirt or blouse.

Parents will be notified of all uniform/general appearance violations via an out of uniform notice. Detention will be assigned after 3 uniform violations. Students may be sent to the office or sent home until appropriately dressed.


Uniform items are available from:
DENNIS UNIFORM COMPANY
250 S. Flower Street
Burbank, CA 91502
(818) 843-8306 (800) 473-8130
(818) 843-8412 Fax

Girls’ Uniform
• White short-sleeved blouse – required for Mass
• White, navy blue or baby blue polo shirt
• White turtleneck or long sleeved white shirt may be worn under the blouse in cold weather (no thermal underwear).
• Navy blue plaid (Dunbar) jumper (grades K-5) or skirt or navy blue twill uniform pants
(grades 6-8) – either required for Mass
• Navy twill walking shorts are optional for all grades (can only be worn in September, October, November and April, May, June)
• Shorts/Pants with pockets in legs are not allowed.
• Skirt length must be no shorter than 2” above the kneecap. Skirts may not be rolled at the waist.
• A navy blue cardigan, pullover sweater or uniform sweatshirt is permitted.
• Plain navy blue jackets only
• Jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts with logos or printing other than that of Incarnation School are not permitted.
• On wet or very cold days, an extra jacket or coat may be worn. This is in addition to the school sweatshirt, jacket or sweater.
• White or blue knee socks or cuffed anklets (socks must be visible 1” above the ankle).
• White or blue tights may be worn in cold weather. Leg warmers, sweats, leggings, or stretch pants are not permitted.

Shoes
• Solid (all) black, solid (all) white, or black and white shoes only
• No shoes with wheels, pictures, designs, or lights.
• No high top shoes, army or construction style boots.
• Shoe laces: Only solid (all) black or solid (all) white shoe laces are allowed.
• No sandals or slip-on shoes

Boys’ Uniform
• White short-sleeved buttoned shirt – required for Mass
• White, navy blue or baby blue polo shirt
• A white turtleneck may be worn under the shirt in cool weather (no thermal underwear).
• Navy blue twill / cord pants – required for Mass
• Navy twill walking shorts are optional for all grades (can only be worn in September, October, November and April, May, June).
• Belts must be worn (except in grades K and 1) and shirts must be tucked inside the pants or shorts.
• A navy blue cardigan, pullover sweater or uniform sweatshirt is permitted.
• Plain navy blue jacket only
• Jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts with logos or printing other than that of Incarnation School are not permitted.
• On wet or very cold days, an extra jacket or coat may be worn. This is in addition to the school sweatshirt, jacket or sweater.
• Navy blue or white socks (must be visible 1” above the ankle).
• Pants must fit comfortably at the waist and should not hang on the hips.
• Underwear must not be visible.
• Baggy pants are not allowed.
• Shorts/Pants with pockets in legs are not allowed.

Shoes
• Solid (all) black, solid (all) white, or black and white shoes only.
• No shoes with wheels, pictures, designs, or lights
• No high top shoes, army or construction style boots.
• Shoe laces: Only solid (all) black or solid (all) white shoe laces are allowed.
• No sandals or slip-on shoes.


Physical Education Uniforms (Purchased from Incarnation School)
All students must participate in physical education. A doctor or parent’s note is required if a student is not participating. A note from the teacher is required before going to the office or health room.

Girls and Boys
• Navy blue uniform walking shorts and white or blue Incarnation T-shirt or Jog-A-Thon shirt.
• Mesh shorts are available for students in grades 6 – 8
• Tennis shoes must be worn (no slip-ons).
• The P. E. uniform may be worn all day only on P.E days.
• On Mass days, students must wear their Mass uniform to school and bring P.E. clothes to change into during lunch.
• In cold weather, students may wear sweat pants for P.E.

Mass Day Uniform
• Students are expected to wear full uniform (ties and no shorts) on all Mass days. Ties must be worn on the collar all day.
• If P.E. day and Mass day coincide, students must wear their full Mass uniform and bring their P. E. clothes to change into during lunch.
• No other jacket or sweater may be worn in place of the uniform.

General Appearance
• Uniforms must be clean, in good condition, and appropriately sized. Oversized clothing is not allowed.
• Hair must be neat and should not cover the eyes. Extreme and trendy hairstyles (shaved heads, roosters, Mohawks, tails, excessive spiking, bleached/dyed/highlighted hair) are not permitted.
• Boys’ hair should be above the collar and above the ear.
• Make-up and nail polish are not permitted.
• Girls may wear one small set of earrings; dangling earrings are not allowed.
• Boys may not wear an earring.
• Girls may not wear excessive jewelry (such as several bracelets).
• Oversized clothing is not allowed.

Free Dress Days (Non-Uniform Days)
• Modest, tasteful dress is required.
• No low-rise jeans or jeans with holes.
• Midriffs, miniskirts, and T-shirts, dresses, or tops with bare shoulders are not allowed.
• Nice denim, dress pants, or skirts may be worn.
• No short shorts or cut-offs
• Boys’ shirts must have a collar.
• Socks must be worn and must be visible 1” above the ankle.
• Both boys and girls must wear appropriate shoes. No sandals, high heeled shoes, or construction style boots are allowed.
• No writing whatsoever is allowed on shirts, including logos.
• Shirts / blouses must be long enough to cover the waist (even when hands are raised over the head).
• Oversized clothing not allowed.

A student who comes to school inappropriately dressed will be sent home to be properly groomed and dressed and will lose the privilege of “free dress” the next time.

Dress Code for Eighth Grade Graduation Dinner-Dance
In the interest of preserving the modesty and decorum of the event, and to prevent uncomfortable instances of inappropriate dress, the following guidelines have been adopted:

Boys
• Dress trousers (no jeans)
• Long-sleeved dress shirt
• Dress shoes (no sneakers or athletic shoes)
• Necktie
• Suit coat or sport jacket optional

Girls
• No strapless dresses or spaghetti straps
• No low necklines or bare backs
• Girls must wear a jacket or sweater without logos (not a shawl or stole) if the dress features the above items.
• Please avoid dresses with cut-out portions or clingy fabrics.
• Length of skirt may not be shorter than 2”above the kneecap. No mini-skirts.
• Shoes - remember that it is difficult to dance with abandon when you are teetering on very high heels