Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Family Messenger September 28, 2010


Loving God,
Open our eyes to see
the people who need our love.
Open our hearts to share
your love with them.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.


A Message from the Principal

This week students in grades 1-8 will be taking the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS). In order for your child(ren) to receive a complete score report, please make sure that he/she is present and on time. All testing will take place before lunch. Scores are expected to be available at parent-teacher conferences in November. Make up testing will take place early next week.

This Friday is our annual Blessing of the Animals in celebration of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The prayer service, prepared by Mrs. Lomasto and the third grade class, and blessing by Monsignor Frilot will begin at 1:00 p.m. and will take place in the kindergarten yard. Parents are invited to bring animals/pets directly to the kindergarten yard beginning at 12:30 for the prayer service beginning at 12:45. Please be sure animals are properly restrained and that you bring plastic bags to clean up after your pets! Animals (regardless of size) will not be allowed in the classrooms. If you are unable to bring your pet to school for the blessing, students are encouraged to bring a photo of their pet. After the blessing, students/families with animals will proceed to the carpool area first, followed by all other students. Please be flexible with carpool on this day—it may be necessary for parents to park and pick up their children.

Sincerely,

Ms. Olivia Carrillo

Prayer Request

Please keep Mr. Sanchez in your prayers as he prepares for back surgery this week.

Important Dates

• September 27 – October 1 - ITBS testing
• October 1 - Blessing of the Animals
• October 8 – Trimester 1 Progress Reports
• October 10 – Grade 7 school sponsored mass
• October 12 – All School Mass 8:30 a.m.

Revised Hot Lunch Menu

The school oven is out of order; therefore some substitutions will be made to the lunch menu this week and next week. A new oven has been ordered and is expected to be delivered by the end of next week. Please note that the Oct. 4th and 5th order forms enclosed in this envelope do not reflect the substitutions listed here.
Sept. 28: substitution for baked potato = ham and cheese sandwich
Sept. 29: substitution for pizza bread = pizza
Oct. 4: substitution for burrito = tamales
Oct. 5: substitution for teriyaki chicken = chicken tenders with rice
Oct. 5: substitution for corn dog = hot dog/dodger dog

Picture Day

Mark your calendars! Picture day is Wednesday, October 27th.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Family Messenger, September 21, 2010

God our Father,
You walk with us on every journey.
You are with us in all we do.
Help us to trust in you to protect and provide for us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen.


A Message from the Principal

Tonight is our first mandatory General PTO meeting of the year. Please note that this meeting will be held at the Incarnation Community Center gym located at 214 W. Fairview Ave. Parking and ASP will be available on the regular school campus. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. The PTO is offering a service hour incentive, and free dress passes will be given to parents for their children at the end of the meeting. Thank you in advance to the Boy Scouts for assisting at the crosswalk. We look forward to seeing you there!


Sincerely,


Ms. Olivia Carrillo

Important Dates

-September 21 – General PTO Meeting 7:00 p.m.
-September 23 - Back to School Night grades preschool through 5; ASP available
-September 27 – ITBS testing begins

Back to School Night

Back to School Night for parents of students in grades preschool through 5 is Thursday, September 23rd beginning at 6:00 p.m. For grades 1 through 5, there will be two sessions: the first session is from 6:00 – 6:30; the second session is from 6:35 – 7:05. ASP will be available. Please note that this evening is intended to help you become familiar with your child’s teacher(s) and classroom expectations, not to discuss individual student progress. If a parent-teacher conference is needed, please make an appointment with your child’s teacher.

From the Business Office

The 2010-2011 school year Book Fees are now due. Also, please note: the $200 SCRIP Mandatory fundraiser invoices will be mailed out in the Home Messenger on October 5 with a due date of Friday, October 15. If you have questions regarding these fees please contact Mrs. Fenton at (818) 241-2269, ext. 112.

Mother-Son Picnic

Save the date for our 2nd annual Mother-Son Picnic to be held on October 24th from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Attention Scouts!

All Scouts can come to school in scout uniform on “Scout Day” this Thursday, September 23rd.


ITBS Testing

The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) will be administered to grades 1 through 8 beginning Monday, September 27th. The ITBS is a norm-referenced standardized test that provides detailed information about student mastery of content skills. By administering the test in the fall, teacher can use the diagnostic information to make instructional decisions related to their classes and individual students. Additionally, students in grades 3, 5, and 7 will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) which measures students’ verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning abilities. With this test, teachers can obtain information about the way in which individual students learn and can add specific teaching strategies to their repertoire to meet the needs of their students.

Parents can help their children prepare for these tests by ensuring that they get plenty of rest and a healthy breakfast every morning. Students often feel tense or anxious when taking these tests. Decrease that uneasiness by letting them know that the purpose of these tests is to help teachers plan instruction.

In order to receive a complete score report, your child must be present for all sections of the test. Please do not schedule any appointments during testing so that your child has the opportunity to complete all sections. All testing will take place before lunch.

Parent Student Handbook Amendment – Birthdays
Please see amendment below to Parent-Student Handbook, pg. 11

If a parent wishes to celebrate his/her child’s birthday at school, celebrations must take place during recess or lunch and must be approved by the child’s teacher ahead of time. Celebrations must be simple (one small treat per child—no pizza lunches, etc.). We request that any treats brought to the school be healthy or non-edible (pencils, fruits, etc.). For home parties, unless all students in the class are included, party invitations may not be passed out at school. This policy eliminates the hurt feelings that result from being excluded. Party invitations can be mailed to the home address or emailed provided that the information is listed in the school directory. School staff will not release information that is not published in the directory.

Training for Adult Lectors

Lector training for all interested adults, high school age and up, will take place on Fridays, Oct. 1, 15, 29, Nov. 12 from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.; Saturdays, Oct. 2, 16, 30, Nov. 13 from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. To register phone Elly Doyle, 818-421-3432 or Pius Oller, 818-246-1308.

Grief Support Meetings

A 6-week session on Grieving the Death of a Loved One will be offered Wednesday evenings, Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, and Nov. 3 in the Parish Center and Thursday mornings, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, and Nov. 4 in St. Michael’s Hall from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The meetings include discussions on the grief process and opportunities to share experiences. Call 818-242-2579 to register.

SCRIP NEWS

New and exciting additions to our On-Hand order include WalMart/Sam's Club for $25.00 with 2% contribution, and Michaels for $25.00 with 4% contribution. On our Special Order form, we will no longer be ordering Claim Jumper as they recently filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection.

It's time to start planning ahead for Christmas. To help with this, See's is offering an additional 2.5% from now through October 22, 2010, bringing contribution to 25.5%. If my math is correct, that is a $4.11 contribution per $16.10 certificate. Just think, you'll only have to buy 49 to meet your $200 profit goal.

Remember to renew Ralphs/eScrip and sign up all your friends, family, and neighbors.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Family Messenger September 14, 2010



Holy God,
You sent your son, Jesus into the world
to be the light of the world.
May this Christ light burn brightly
in all we do and say, so that your love
may be known on earth as it is in heaven.
Amen.


A Message from the Principal

Last Saturday was our annual Back to School Hop where we celebrated the beginning of a new school year. It was great to see so many of you there! Thank you to the Student Council and all volunteers that helped with the set-up, games, book-fair, and clean-up. I would especially like to thank our chairpersons, Mrs. Rosy Alonso and Mrs. Lisa Dumansky, for organizing this event once again.

Next Tuesday, September 21st is our first mandatory General PTO meeting of the year. Please note that this meeting will be held at the Incarnation Community Center located at 214 W. Fairview Ave. Parking and ASP will be available on the school campus. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. The PTO is offering a service hour incentive. We look forward to seeing you there!


Sincerely,

Ms. Olivia Carrillo


Important Dates

• September 14 – All School Mass 8:30 a.m.; dress uniform required
• September 16 – Back to School Night grades 6-8; ASP available
• September 21 – General PTO Meeting 7:00 p.m.; ASP available
• September 23 - Back to School Night grades preschool through 5; ASP available
• September 27 – ITBS testing begins

Back to School Night

This Thursday, September 16th is Back to School Night for parents of students in grades 6 through 8. The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. in your child’s homeroom class. You will have the opportunity to visit each teacher’s classroom in 20-minute sessions. The book fair will be open this evening.

Back to School Night
for parents of students in grades preschool through 5 is Thursday, September 23rd beginning at 6:00 p.m. For grades 1 through 5, there will be two sessions: the first session is from 6:00 – 6:30; the second session is from 6:35 – 7:05

ASP will be available both evenings. Please note that these evenings are intended to help you become familiar with your child’s teacher(s) and classroom expectations, not to discuss individual student progress. If a parent-teacher conference is needed, please make an appointment with your child’s teacher.

ITBS Testing

The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) will be administered beginning Monday, September 27th. Testing will take place all week, and most testing is scheduled in the morning hours. Please do not schedule any appointments for the week of the 27th so your child is present to take the full battery of tests.

Prayer Request

It is with sadness that we inform the school community of the passing of Mr. Clifford Baltazar, father of Kiona in grade 2 and Clifford in grade 6. Please keep the family in your prayers during this difficult time.

Book Fair

The book fair will remain open until Thursday of this week.

Decathlon Coach Needed

The Academic Junior High Decathlon is scheduled for March 5, 2011. We do not have a head coach for this event, and we must have one if we are to send a team to represent Incarnation. If you are interested in being the head coach for the team, please contact Ms. Carrillo ASAP. The head coach will fulfill their participation hours requirement for the year.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Family Messenger, September 7, 2010

Lord, our God,
Help us to be people of prayer,
turning first to God when we
have decisions to make.
May God’s work be done through us.
We ask this through Jesus’ name.
Amen.


A Message from the Principal

A brand new school year brings a fresh start for your child and for you as a parent. How can your child make the most of this new school year? One way to focus your child’s energies is to work together to set a goal. Working toward a goal energizes your child and, if the goal is a good one, creates a sense of accomplishment.

Here are a few important points to remember when setting a goal with your child:

-Ask your child to think about one thing he or she would like to accomplish this year—a goal must be something your child believes in and wants. Then write it down!
-A goal must say exactly what the child wants to accomplish.
-Describe the steps that will lead your child to achieve the goal. Using the image of a ladder can help a child think through the steps that will lead to the goal.
-Decide when your child should achieve the goal. Be sensitive to the age of your child when setting time frames—the younger the child, the shorter the timeline. You may want to consider monthly goals rather than one long-term goal for the year.
-Be sure the goal will stretch your child while at the same time being attainable.
-Settle on one or two good goals—keep them manageable.

Be sure the goal really is your child’s goal. Allow your child to experience the effort and satisfaction, and sometimes even the disappointment and frustration, that accompany the process of reaching for a goal. As the year progresses, coach your child in working toward the goal. Your encouragement and counsel will serve as important support and persistence.

Sincerely,

Ms. Olivia Carrillo


Important Dates

-September 10 – Deadline to turn in Parent/Student Handbook agreement forms
-September 11 – Back to School Hop/Book Fair
-September 14 – All School Mass 8:30 a.m.; dress uniform required
-September 16 – Back to School Night grades 6-8; child care provided

Box Tops for Education

Turn your everyday grocery purchases into cash for Incarnation School! You can clip 10¢ Box Tops coupons from hundreds of products such as Cheerios®, Betty Crocker®, Juicy Juice®, Ziploc®, Kleenex®, Hefty® and more! Start clipping now and send them to the school office. Visit www.boxtops4education.com for more ways to earn.

Directory Information and Handbook Agreement Forms

Please return the 2010-2011 Directory Information Form to the school office by this Friday, September 10, so an updated School Directory may be prepared for distribution to all school families. Please contact the office staff if you need another copy of the form. Parent/Student Handbook Agreement Forms are also due on Friday, September 10. The handbook can be found online at www.incaschool.org.

Back to School Hop and Book Fair

Mark your calendars for our annual Back to School Hop to be held this Saturday, September 11. Join Incarnation families as we celebrate the beginning of an exciting school year. The book fair will be open Saturday, Sunday after mass, and September 13 – 16. Hope to see you there!

Decathlon Coach Needed

The Academic Junior High Decathlon is scheduled for March 5, 2011. We do not have a head coach for this event, and we must have one if we are to send a team to represent Incarnation. If you are interested in being the head coach for the team, please contact Ms. Carrillo ASAP. The head coach will fulfill their participation hours requirement for the year.

Parent Education Class at GCC

Positive Parenting is a free adult-only class designed for parents seeking instruction in positive parenting methods. Discuss your concerns in a safe, welcoming environment. Topics include family goal setting, discipline, sibling relationships, school issues, and more. Classes are Tuesdays from 9 – 11 a.m. Register online at Glendale.edu or call 818-243-5196.

Swim Team News

Reminder: The Swim Team organizational meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Swim Team is open to all grades K-8 and all levels. Swim Team practices are every Friday from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. at Glassell Park Pool. First swim meet is September 26.

From the Business Office

Statements for outstanding balances are included in today’s Home Messenger. Please review your statement and contact Mrs. Fenton if you have any questions. Reminder: ASP statements are mailed through the Home Messenger at the end of each month.

SCRIP NEWS

Welcome back!! Scrip sales are here and ready to go. The Scrip Team is very excited for this year being bigger and better than ever. In the home messenger today, you will find new order forms, eScrip renewal/sign-up information, and Ralphs renewal/sign-up information. YOU MUST renew eScrip and Ralphs in order to continue to get contributions. You can also sign up friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors to help with your contributions. If you do sign up others, please stop by the morning scrip table to give us their names so that we know who to put the contributions towards. As always, we are here to help and are happy to answer any questions or give you ideas how to reach your $200 profit goal.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Family Messenger August 10, 2010

Dear Parents:

I hope that you have had a pleasant summer and that your children are enjoying the remaining days of vacation. I would like to extend a warm welcome to our returning families and a special welcome to the newest families of Incarnation Parish School. Enclosed is some important information that will help you as you prepare for the beginning of the 2010 – 2011 academic year.

Important Dates

• August 17 – PTO Board’s New Parent Orientation in the Parish Center Patio - All new families are invited to attend this orientation
• Social - 6:00 – 6:30 p.m.
• Orientation - 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
• August 22 – Kindergarten picnic (more information to come)
• August 24 – School offices closed at noon
• August 25
• School office closed
• 6th grade parent/student orientation 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in auditorium
• August 30 – First Day of School for grades 1-8 only (½ day: 7:50 - noon); We will have a brief welcome and blessing for the new year, followed by coffee for parents in the auditorium.
• August 31 – Noon dismissal grades 1-8
• September 1- First full day grades 1-8; preschool parent orientation 6:00 p.m.
• September 6 – Labor Day – No School
• September 7 – First day of school for preschool and kindergarten

VIRTUS Training

VIRTUS training is a requirement for all volunteers at Incarnation School. In order to volunteer at the school in any capacity, we must have your training certificate on file in the school office. VIRTUS certification must be renewed after 4 years. Incarnation will offer a VIRTUS session for those who have never been through at training on Saturday, August 21 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. For those needing recertification, a session will be offered on August 21 from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Both sessions will be held in the Incarnation Community Center’s basement. For more information about this program to protect our children and to find other trainings in the surrounding area, visit www.virtus.org.

Emergency Cards

Enclosed you will find two (2) emergency cards. Both must be completed and returned no later than Friday, September 3. Without these cards on file, we do not have emergency contact information and your child may not continue with classes until you provide us with this critical information. Please make sure that the cards are completed fully and accurately. We strongly suggest that you list at least four names under the Emergency Care Information section. You may attach an additional sheet with more names if necessary. Persons listed in this section will be the only ones authorized to pick up your child(ren) in an emergency or during the school day.

Before School Care and After School Program

Before School Care is offered beginning at 7:00 a.m. for $1.00 per day. Students attending morning care must be signed in by a parent/guardian daily. Parents who do not sign their child(ren) in may lose the opportunity to use this service. Students may not be on campus before 7:00 a.m.

The After School Program (ASP)
begins on August 30. The Hours and Fee Schedule and the Registration Form for 2010-2011 are enclosed. Please remember that parents/guardians must sign their child(ren) out of ASP every day.

Hot Lunch Program

M&F Kitchenette will provide hot lunch for purchase beginning September 7. Order forms will be sent home the first week of school. Please be sure your child brings his/her own lunch for the week of August 30.

Supply Lists

Supply lists will be available on the school website (www.incaschool.org) under the Homework Hero tab.

Carpool

All students (except winners of convenient pick-up at the 09-10 auction) must be dropped off and picked up through morning carpool. Enter from Dryden and exit on Central. Please remain in your car, be patient, and mind the carpool volunteers. The volunteers will assist your children in exiting and entering the vehicle. For everyone’s safety, please observe the 5 mph speed limit and do not use cell phones while in the carpool lane. In the morning, please be sure your children have their belongings with them (not in the trunk) so that the carpool line moves quickly. Remind students that they may not walk behind or between cars. Do not use the church parking lot to drop off your children. Please note that all campus gates will be closed and locked at 8:10 a.m. every day.

**Note to kindergarten and first grade parents: Enclosed is a laminated sign to use at morning and afternoon carpool. These signs are to alert carpool volunteers that there are young children that need help exiting the car, and to help the teachers identify parents at pick-up time.
**Kindergarten parents—During the week of September 7, please park in the church parking lot at dismissal. Mrs. Neumeier will release the students at the side gate adjacent to the church lot.

Permission to Walk Home After School

Students who walk home after school must have a letter signed by the parent on file in the school office. Students without this signed release will not be allowed to leave the campus and will be checked in to ASP. The form is available in the school office and will also be in the Parent/Student Handbook online. A new form must be completed at the beginning of each school year.

As a Catholic school, we find strength and purpose in Christ’s teachings. We strive to create a climate that gives witness to Christian faith. Thank you for choosing Incarnation School. We look forward to working with you as we help our children grow spiritually and intellectually.

Enjoy the month of August and we look forward to seeing you all very soon!

Blessings,

Ms. Olivia Carrillo
Principal

Friday, June 25, 2010

Latest News

The long-awaited electrical upgrade of Incarnation School has begun. Step one is the installation of a substation on campus in the schoolyard next to the junior high building. As a result of the construction, the school's email server will be down until the office is reopened on August 2, 2010. For emergencies, contact the parish office at (818) 242-2579

The Incarnation School office will be closing up for the summer this Friday, to open again August 2. Please take care of your business with the school soon. Yearbooks have arrived and may be picked up now. The first day of school for the children is August 30, 2010.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Family Messenger, June 8, 2010

Lord God,
You know everything and you know that we love you!
We will follow you in the quiet of our hearts
and in our love for one another.
May we carry the love we’ve experienced this year
out into the world this summer and always. Amen.



A Message from the Principal

The school year always seems to come and go so quickly. With the school year behind us and the summer ahead, I want to encourage your children to continue learning at home. Remind your children to read---visit the library or book store and find books that your child is interested in to promote reading for pleasure. Enjoy your summer experiences and make those learning opportunities for your children. If you are looking for summer programs, please stop by the office to see what is available in the area. On behalf of all of us at Incarnation School, I wish you and your family a healthy, happy, and safe summer! See you August 30th!
I would also like to Thank Fr. Paul for his guidance and leadership of our parish and school community.
We wish him well and will miss him dearly. God bless you Fr. Paul.


Sincerely,

Ms. Olivia Carrillo


Important Dates

. 6/10 – Kindergarten Culmination 9:00 a.m.
. 6/10 – Preschool Culmination 7:00 p.m.
. 6/11 – Last Day of School; 10:30 a.m. dismissal; NO ASP

Last Day of School

On Friday, June 11, students will be dismissed at 10:30 a.m. Carpool gates will open at 10:15. Remember that ASP will not be provided, so please be sure your child is picked up on time. You are also invited to join us on this day for our final awards assembly at 9:30 a.m. in the auditorium.

Virtus Training

Incarnation will hold a Virtus training session on Saturday, June 19 from 9 a.m. to noon. Location has been changed to the school auditorium. Please call the school office to register.

Summer Office Hours

Monday, June 14 – Thursday, June 24 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Friday, June 25 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Monday, June 28 – Friday, July 30 School office closed
Monday, August 2 – Friday, August 27 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The office will be closed for lunch from 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.

Jog-A-Thon 2010

Many businesses begin planning for their next fiscal year expenses at this time. Enclosed in this envelope are the business sponsorship forms for our Jog-A-Thon in November. It’s not too early to start soliciting business sponsorships. Remember each family is responsible for paying $150 per child or obtain a $250 sponsorship per child to meet Jog-A-Thon fundraising requirements. Use the summer months and meet your requirement early!

Scrip Tip

Marie Callender's scrip is out until further notice. The company we order from doesn't quite know when it will be in again. We will be outside the office this week during normal hours. Your purchase will go towards the 2010-2011 school year, and it's a great way to thank our teachers and staff. Throughout the summer, sales will continue outside of Sunday morning masses. You can still order from the "Special Order" form throughout the summer by dropping it off to the scrip table and it will be available for you to pick up the following week. Keep purchasing scrip throughout the summer so that you are sure that the scrip businesses pay your $200 contribution.

Swim Team News
The Incarnation Swim Team will begin practicing in August on Wednesday mornings from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. at Chevy Chase Country Club: 8/4, 8/11, 8/18, 8/25.
4th-8th graders from 8am-9am
K-3rd graders 9am-10am
Older swimmers can continue to do laps after practice while the smaller ones are practicing since we can use the entire pool.

Glendale Gators Swim Team

INCA swimmers are encouraged to participate in the Glendale Gators Swim Team which runs from June 28-Aug 28 as an additional form of practice this summer- some of the Inca swimmers are already signed up! Laura Medina will be taking applications until June 14. For more information, please contact Laura Fabian-Medina at fourpups@live.com Interested in joining the Swim Team? Open to all grades, K-8. Contact Juliet Mazza-Mendoza at jmazza@mendozaassociates.com
Gators Team applications are in the school office.

From the Business Office
The June statements for outstanding balances are enclosed in today’s Home Messenger. Thank you to all of the families who have already paid their May and June ASP invoices. Daily ASP and AM Care invoices for June will be mailed to your home addresses on Friday, June 11.

Thank you all for your help and support this school year. Have a great summer!

Decathlon Head Coach Needed

Incarnation School is in need of a Head Coach for the 2010-2011 Academic Decathlon team. Without a head coach, we cannot send a team to represent Incarnation. We need you!! If you are able to help, please contact Ms. Carrillo.


First Day of School – Monday, August 30, 2010