St. Patrick Academy provides a Catholic college-preparatory education to all students,

regardless of need, who aspire to spiritual, personal and academic excellence.

244 Smith Street

Providence, RI 02908

421-9300 * fax 490-4511

www.stpatrickacademyri.com

PARENTS’ NEWSLETTER: January, 2017 Dear Parents & Guardians, Happy New Year! We wish you all God’s graces and blessing throughout 2017. We have arrived at the mid-point of the school year as we prepare our students for their 1st Semester Mid-Term Exams.

Important Dates: Please note the following dates and times for upcoming events and activities:

Monday, January 16: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day There is no school on this day as we honor the memory of this famed civil rights leader. Tuesday, January 17 through Friday, January 20: 1st Semester Exams Exams in all required and elective courses, except for Physical Education and Yearbook, will be given during the third week of

January. Each exam period is 90 minutes, and there are two exam periods per day, from 8:30 to 10:00am and 10:30 to 12 noon. An exam schedule, study tips and a dress code for the week are enclosed. Students will be allowed to dress down for these exam days according to a dress code provided to all students. The school will open at the usual time and all students are required to be in the building by 7:35am. Monday, January 23: 3rd Quarter Begins

APPLICATIONS for 2017-18 Now Open: We continue to accept applications for grades 9-11 for

next year. To date, we have received 40 applications for next year – a few more than we had at this time last year. The maximum class size for each grade is 25 and we have rolling admissions – students are accepted on a first-come, first served basis. If you know of a student who might be interested in attending St. Patrick Academy, please have them call us as soon as possible at 421-9300 or go to our website at www.stpatrickacademyri.com. Please be reminded that all families must complete the FACTS Grant and Aid form each year. We use the information gathered on these forms to determine your family’s need. The Diocese of Providence also uses this information in awarding grants that you may receive from the various scholarship funds the diocese operates. As soon as you have received your 2016 W-2 wage statement from your employer please fill out the form. You may use your 2015 income tax return and 2015 W-2 statement in conjunction with your 2016

Engaged in the relentless pursuit of excellence!

St. Patrick Academy provides a Catholic college-preparatory education to all students,

regardless of need, who aspire to spiritual, personal and academic excellence.

W-2 statement to file the form. If you complete your 2016 income tax return early you can use that and your 2016 W-2 to complete the FACTS Grant and Aid application and you will not need anything from 2015. We will only be accepting the on-line version of the FACTS form, which you can find at www.factstuitionaid.com. We will again have an evening (Tuesday, Feb. 7, 3:00pm to 7:00p) and a Saturday morning (Feb 11, 9:00am to Noon) set aside for those of you who would like help in completing the form. You may also call the school and make an appointment with Mr. Raymond for one-on-one help. Our goal is to have all families’ FACTS forms completed by February 15th, 2017.

Honor Roll Students: Twenty-three students who achieved Honor

Roll status in the 1st Quarter went to see a terrific theatrical production of A Christmas Carol at The Stadium Theater in Woonsocket on Friday, December 16. Afterwards, the students gathered for lunch at the Woonsocket Palace Pizza. Tickets to the play were provided by a grant from The Stadium Theater through an anonymous donor. Another grant through The Big Yellow School Bus program provided the funds for the cost of bus transportation. We are, of course, grateful to these donors for their support. Our thanks also to Diane Landry, the Stadium Theater’s Community Liaison, for her assistance in organizing this event.

Campus Ministry News: Last month, Club 3107 prepared 350

bagged lunches for the needy and serving them at Cathedral Square on Friday, December 9th. The club also took a trip to the Shrine of La Salette in Attleboro, MA, on Friday, December 16th. Fr. James has also been distributing the applications for next summer’s third mission trip to the Dominican Republic village of El Caliche to work with the poor. On Friday, January 13th, members of Club 3107 and other interested students will make 350 sandwiches for the homeless and poor of Providence. After the sandwiches are prepared and ready to deliver, some of the students along with Fr. James and Mrs. Cipriano will be distributing them in Cathedral Square. Club 3107 will be collecting hats, scarves, gloves, heavy socks, coats, hoodies or sweaters through the month of January to be distributed to those who are in need. The Students for Life Club made and distributed Christmas Cards to the elderly at Hopkins Manor in North Providence. They were also able to sing Christmas carols with some of the residents. Because of this positive reception, the Club will be setting up times to visit these residents throughout the year. On Thursday, January 26th, Fr. James and Mrs. Cipriano will be leading 13 St. Patrick Academy students to Washington, DC, for the March for Life the next day. The students will be returning on Saturday, January 28th. It is truly a great opportunity for our students to see democracy in action. Please keep them in your prayers. On February 14th, our juniors will be on their retreat. During their retreat the students will be putting into practice what they have learned in their classes and the previous retreats. It is a way for them to live out their faith. This year we will be organizing a Valentine's Dance for the residents of Capitol Ridge. This retreat is mandatory. More information will be upcoming in the next newsletter.

1st Quarter Honor Roll

Congratulations to these

25 students who achieved

Honor Roll status for the

1st Quarter, 2016-17:

Highest Honors (GPA, 4.0)

Camila Uriona, 11th

Victoria Fuller, 9th

Angelica James, 9th

Moeisha Joseph, 9th

Matthew Keokhaw, 9th

High Honors (GPA, 3.70 - 3.99)

David Bardales, 11th

Leonel Caro, 11th

Julissa Carrera, 11th

Franklin Disla, 11th

Shakira DaGraca, 10th

Tomas Ferrnandez, 10th

Joanah Imarhiagbe, 10th

Isabel Arnaut, 9th

Dulce Flores, 9th

Cleia Monteiro, 9th

Honors (GPA, 3.30 – 3.69)

Naleen Camara, 12th

Corey Rebollo, 12th

Kimberly Avelar, 11th

Angela Gonzalez, 10th

Amy Hidalgo, 10th

Angel Benitez, 9th

Taelyce DePina, 9th

Abisola Oladipo, 9th

Sebastian Perez, 9th

Catherine Scholz, 9th

St. Patrick Academy provides a Catholic college-preparatory education to all students,

regardless of need, who aspire to spiritual, personal and academic excellence.

Student of the Month: Julissa Carrera was selected by the faculty as

December’s Student of the Month. Julissa is a junior who has been on the Honor Roll student every quarter of her high school career, a member of the Student Council for the past three years, and she has been a member of the Explore Club, the Science Club and the Track & Field team. Teachers who nominated her noted that Julissa is a “thoughtful, sincere and honest young lady” of high integrity, a “wonderful student” who is “caring” and “a great role model” for other students. Julissa resides with her family in Providence.

Guidance Department News: The college acceptance letters are starting to come in and we will see

even more in the next couple of months. To date, four members of our Class of 2017 – Naleen Camara, Marc Saldarriaga, Paul Kihara and Alex Rodriguez – have been accepted to the following schools:

Eastern Kentucky University Franklin Pierce University Johnson & Wales University Rhode Island College Roger Williams University St. Michael’s College University of Maine

In addition to college acceptances, one member of our senior class, Brandon Borja-Arellano, has chosen military service and will be serving in the Army following graduation.

Library News: The library will celebrate the life of Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., and promote black awareness during

the month of January. Books and displays regarding black

success stories, struggles, and inspiration will be set up across

the whole library.

Coming soon: The library will soon be offering select

editions of Ted Talks. Ted Talks are a series of short

presentations, usually about 15 minutes each, on a variety of

topics and ideas. The club will watch and analyze carefully

selected Ted Talks with the goal of promoting critical

thinking skills in the student body of St. Patrick Academy. More information will be coming soon.

Development News: The Development Office is thrilled to report that our community of caring and

generous donors has responded successfully once again to the NACEPF Challenge! St. Patrick Academy received $264,277 in qualifying gifts to the NACEPF Challenge by December 31. The support of our community will lead the North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation (NACEPF) and its founder, Mr. John Primeau, to provide a matching gift of $200,000. 100% of all NACEPF Challenge gifts go directly to ensure access to a Saint Patrick Academy education for students in need through tuition assistance.

Nurse’s Office: The Wellness Company will be having a “Vaccinate Before You Graduate”

immunization clinic on Tuesday, January 24th at 9am. A consent form for this clinic is enclosed.

St. Patrick Academy provides a Catholic college-preparatory education to all students,

regardless of need, who aspire to spiritual, personal and academic excellence.

Mr. Bill Dapont, our school nurse, will be sending out care plans for students with heath issues in next month’s mailing. The care plans that we have on file are dated and we are working on making new uniform, more detailed care plans that address each student’s medical needs. Thank you!

Student Council News: The Student Council held a lively

Pep Rally on Wednesday, December 21st to kick off the 2016-17 Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball seasons. The rally was held during the last period of the school day so that students, faculty, staff, and coaches could participate. Members of the boys’ and girls’ teams played short 5-on-5 games, while the cheerleaders performed several cheers and stunts. The annual Winter Ball will be held on Saturday, February 4th from 6:00pm to 10:30pm at Emmily’s Family Restaurant in

Johnston (yes, two m’s – no mistake). This year’s theme is “Under the Stars.” Tickets are $30.00 per student and will be on sale at school soon. The price includes a steak or chicken dinner and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. Faculty will chaperone the dance and it promises to be a special night.

National Art Honor Society (NAHS): The St. Patrick Academy NAHS will hold its annual

induction of new members on Friday, February 10th, at 1:15pm. The inductees, who were invited due to their scholarship and interest in the arts, include: Julissa Carrera, Shakira DaGraca, Max-veda Golafale, Angela Gonzalez, Jonathan Leon, Tania Ortiz, Kimberly Avelar and Jose Reyes. All students and faculty will be invited to attend along with family members of the new inductees. The ceremony will feature a guest speaker

Prayers We ask for your prayers for:

• The soul of Michael Vizzacco, 47, who died on August 30th, and for his family. He is the son of our Sodexo “lunch lady,” Mrs. Eileen Vizzacco.

• The soul of Joseph Toste, 84, who died on October 4th, and for his family. He is the grandfather of Charles Toste, our Dean of Student Life and Athletic Director.

• The soul of Ken Maguire, 77, who died on October 13th, and for his family. He is the brother of Mrs. Janice Johnston, our Development Assistant.

• The complete healing and recovery of Brenda Hammerschmidt, our technology consultant, who has been ill and recently underwent surgery.

Please feel free to call us with any questions or concerns at 421-9300.

God bless,

Bruce Daigle Bruce Daigle Principal