The Connection

-St Thomas Aquinas Regional School admits students of any race, color, or national origin.

March 24, 2015

Volume 3, Issue 29

www.aquinastars.org

703-491-4447

God, heavenly Father,

look upon me and hear my prayer

during this holy Season of Lent.

By the good works You inspire,

help me to discipline my body

and to be renewed in spirit.

Without You I can do nothing.

By Your Spirit help me to know what is right

and to be eager in doing Your will.

Teach me to find new life through penance.

Keep me from sin, and help me live

by Your commandment of love.

God of love, bring me back to You.

Send Your Spirit to make me strong

in faith and active in good works.

May my acts of penance bring me Your forgiveness,

open my heart to Your love,

and prepare me for the coming feast

of the Resurrection of Jesus.

Lord, during this Lenten Season,

nourish me with Your Word of life

and make me one

with You in love and prayer.

Fill my heart with Your love

and keep me faithful to the Gospel of Christ.

Give me the grace to rise above my human weakness.

Give me new life by Your Sacraments, especially the Mass.

Father, our source of life,

I reach out with joy to grasp Your hand;

let me walk more readily in Your ways.

Guide me in Your gentle mercy,

for left to myself I cannot do Your Will.

Father of love, source of all blessings,

help me to pass from my old life of sin

to the new life of grace.

Prepare me for the glory of Your Kingdom.

I ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

Who lives and reigns with You

and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever.

Amen

May God continue his blessings to us all the Lenten Season, Sister Martha Ann

The Connection (continued)

-St Thomas Aquinas Regional School admits students of any race, color, or national origin.

SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Calendar Items- Please check the online school calendar weekly for changes

3/26/15 Thursday: Read Across Aquinas- Middle School 3/27/15 Friday: Athletic Department Popcorn Sale 3/27 and 3/28/15 Friday and Saturday: Musical Production of The Wizard of Oz at Gar-Field High School 3/28/15 Saturday: Diocesan Band Festival (Advanced Band)-9am at Bishop Ireton H.S. 3/31/15 Tuesday: Cosmic Adventures Planetarium Show Pre-k-5 4/18/15 Saturday: PTO Spaghetti/Bingo Night Hot Lunch Update: Hot Lunch orders for the month of April are due by 3/28. When you entered your e-mail address this allows the system to email you a receipt as well as notify you each month when the menu has been “Published” for the next month’s ordering. Print out your receipt as a helpful reminder for your students to know what days they have ordered. The ordering window is the 1st of each month through midnight on the 28th. Please help us avoid potential mistakes with your child’s lunch by ordering ON TIME. It is a collective decision between Fairfax Food Service and St Thomas Aquinas Regional School, that late orders will longer be accepted. Fairfax Food Service Link

Field Trips/Illness: With 48 hour business days notice prior to a Field Trip, call FFS's office 703-550-1820 and Fairfax Food Service will issue credits should a field trip pop up or if an extended illness should occur the same 48 hour notice applies.

Middle School Musical: This is the LAST WEEK to purchase tickets for our middle school musical, The Wizard of Oz! There will be two 7 p.m. performances: Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28, 2015, at the Gar-Field High School Auditorium. General admission tickets are $5 each. Tickets may be purchased by cash or check at the Front Desk. Tickets purchased online will be held at Will-Call on the night of the performance.

Tech Week practice schedule: (Click here to view the latest updated schedule).

Tech week are closed rehearsals. Parents please pick up your student INSIDE the auditorium

At Gar-Field High School- Use Door #17

Tues 3/24:5-8PM ALL CAST AND CREW

5-6:30 -Tin Man, Scarecrow, Dorothy, Glinda, Toto, Wicked Witch, Miss Gulch, Uncle

Henry, Zeke, Hunk, Hickory, Aunt Em, Professor Marvel, Crows, ALL Munchkins, Apple

Trees

6:30-8 - Tin Man, Lion, Scarecrow, Dorothy, Glinda, Toto, Wicked Witch, Uncle Henry, Zeke, Hunk, Hickory, Aunt Em, Professor Marvel, Jitterbugs, Doorman, Guard, ALL Oz, NIKKO, Winged Monkeys, Winkie Guards, WIZARD of OZ,

Wed 3/25: 5-8PM ALL CAST AND CREW

SAME BREAKDOWN AS TUESDAY

Thurs 3/26: DRESS REHEARSAL

4-10pm -EVERYONE HAS TO BE THERE AT 4:00

CAST (NOT CREW) SHOULD BE DONE AT 9:00

Fri 3/7 and Sat 3/28: 4-10pm

Performance at 7pm Students to arrive at 4pm (Please check instructions given by make up for your individual or group arrival time)

The Connection (continued)

-St Thomas Aquinas Regional School admits students of any race, color, or national origin.

Diocesan Band Festival: Advanced Band members are performing in the Diocesan Band Festival this Saturday, March 28, 2015, at Bishop Ireton High School, 201 Cambridge Road in Alexandria. Students must arrive by 9 a.m. dressed in white tops and black pants or skirts. Look for a flyer in the Tuesday folders. Please make sure that your student has practiced their music pieces for the festival. Cosmic Adventures Planetarium show: Hosted by the PTO for grades Pre-k through 5th, the show is “ A brief tour of the Universe”. Band/Choir Busch Gardens Trip: The final cost for the Band / Choir trip to Busch Gardens has been set at $107. If you made a $60 deposit for your student, the balance due is $47. (Costs have been partially offset by bake sale proceeds and PTO funds.) Students will wear the Aquinas Band/Choir t-shirt, if needed a new t-shirt may be purchased for $5. Only a few bus seats are available. Please see the attached flyer. Aquinas 2015 Yearbooks: Go to- ybpay.lifetouch.com. Enter school code: 8740315 Follow prompts and pay with your credit card. For more information see the attached flyer.

Softcover yearbook: $22 Pre K – Grade 7 Hardcover yearbook: $25 -8th Grade only

From the Nurse’s Desk Parents of Middle School Students: Last week during PE, Mrs. Puglise did an activity with the students showing them the sugar content in many common beverages consumed every day. Many students were amazed at what they are drinking and did not realize how much sugar is recommended for a school age child. Continuing with this theme, Mrs. Perroots and Mrs. Kelly are going to take part of PE class this Thursday, March 26, to discuss health and wellness with all middle school students. They will have two groups in each class, one with the boys and one with the girls. Topics that will be addressed include: healthy diet, exercise, recommended sleep and hygiene. They will also discuss friendship and kindness towards others. Illness and Injury, as well as responding to a friend in need, will be addressed as appropriate. As always, if you have any questions or thoughts, please let us know! God bless you and your family during this season of lent.

Sports Spring sports: Registration is still open for soccer and softball but will be closing soon. Please send in all paperwork to Mrs Reale as soon as possible.

Soccer is 3/25 indoors at the school from 3:00-5:00. Softball is 3/30 indoors at the school from 3:30-5:30.

Check the sports website and calendar for game dates and more information.

Popcorn Sale: Friday, March 27 there will be a popcorn sale for Athletics. Popcorn will be available at lunch for all grades. $1 for a cup of popcorn in a souvenir sports cup or .50 for a bag.

The Connection (continued)

-St Thomas Aquinas Regional School admits students of any race, color, or national origin.

THIS LENTEN SEASON:

As we observe this holy season of Lent please take note of the following programs:

The Catholicism Series: This series began Monday evening March 2nd. There are 7 more sessions, every Monday evening from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. You can come to all or one. Everyone is welcome Free babysitting will be available in a kindergarten classroom. The Catholicism Series Flyer Any student whose parents come to the Catholicism Series will get an out of uniform the next day – Tuesday. The dates for the Catholicism Series are: March 30th – Skip April 6th – April 13th – April 20th – April 27th – May 4th –May 11th – skip May 18th & May 25th – Last one June 1st. Aquinas Dad’s Retreat: Step back from everyday life to join other Catholic dads for a weekend of prayer, reflection, discussion, and renewal to refocus your family’s journey, on Friday April 24th at the San Damiano Spirituality Life Center in White Post, VA. Please see the attached Dad’s Retreat Flyer for more information. Fathers (and Grandfathers) of Aquinas Students: Please prayerfully consider a men’s program called "That Man is You!" (TMIY). Saturdays at OLA and will continue through Lent. The program brings catholic men together and tackles issues that face us as men, and challenge our faith/leadership in our family lives. Please see the attached That Man is You (TMIY) flyer for more information. Saint John Paul the Great Bioethics curriculum: Have you ever wondered what students are learning in the 4 year Bioethics Curriculum found only at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School? Our very own Sr. Terese Auer, O.P., Bioethics Department Chair, is conducting a mini-series for adults. The last session is Tuesday, March 31: Virtue and Vice, please RSVP to Mr. Jay Jesse at jay.jesse@jpthegreat.org. Free! All are welcome! The session runs from 7 – 8:30pm.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter: Get away from all those worldly anxieties and take time to just focus on God and each other by making a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The upcoming weekend is April 17-19, 2015 in Fredericksburg. For more information or to apply, visit our website at: http://renewmarriage-vanorth.org/ or call 703-378-4150. Divine Mercy Chaplet: Come join fellow parents as we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet 2:40pm every Friday at the Mary statue in front of the church.

PTO Park & Pray: As the weather is changing, “Park and Pray” for a few minutes before afternoon pick-up, and visit Jesus in the Adoration Chapel! See the Park and Pray flyer.

Prayer for Families: Lord God, from you every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. Father, you are Love and Life. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, born of woman, and through the Holy Spirit, fountain of divine charity, grant that every family on earth may become for each successive generation a true shrine of life and love. Grant that your grace may guide the thoughts and actions of husbands and wives for the good of their families and of all the families in the world. Grant that the young may find in the family solid support for their human dignity and for their growth in truth and love. Grant that love, strengthened by the grace of the sacrament of marriage, may prove mightier than all the weakness and trials through which our families sometimes pass. Through the intercession of the Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that the Church may fruitfully carry out her worldwide mission in the family and through the family. Through Christ our Lord, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life for ever and ever. Amen. Save the Date: World Meeting of Families (September 22-27, 2015, in Philadelphia, PA). The world’s largest Catholic gathering of families emphasizing the impact of the love and life of families on our society. See the website for more information.

The Connection (continued)

-St Thomas Aquinas Regional School admits students of any race, color, or national origin.

PTO ANNOUNCEMENTS

Time-sensitive PTO information is below. We post information about our programs and activities on our website page. Please check in regularly to keep in the loop with on-going PTO programs. Aquinas Skate Social: The PTO would like to extend a big THANK YOU to everyone who came out for a great night of skating! We would also like to thank Mrs. Mendell, Mr. and Mrs. Mendoza, and all the parent volunteers who helped make the evening a great success! Spaghetti/Bingo Night: Mark your calendar for a great night of food, fun and fellowship with fellow Aquinas Families! Join us Saturday April 18, 2015 at Knights of Columbus, 13386 Telegraph Rd. Woodbridge, VA 22192. Spaghetti Dinner at 6pm (Spaghetti Dinner and Desserts only $5) and Bingo at 7pm. ($20 for 10 Games, $5 for Jackpot of $500) *Non-Winning Bingo Players can write off their $20 on their taxes as a donation. See the attached Flyer.

Read Across Aquinas: The middle school will be having a Shakespeare performance by students from Catholic University on Thursday, March 26th. Thank you to all who volunteered their time to come and read to students in the elementary grades last Thursday. It was a great day of costumes, storytelling and guest readers. Thank you, again! Library Shelves: We would also like to thank those who helped fill our library shelves by purchasing a book from our library's Amazon Wishlist. Over 130 books were donated and will be added to our library's collection for all of the students to enjoy. Coke Rewards PROGRAM CHANGE: Coke Rewards has partnered with Kula.com changing their Coke Rewards for Schools program. Coke Rewards will NOT be collected as part of the Collection Challenge. However, you can input the Coke Rewards codes into your personal account and then donate those points to Aquinas yourself. Please go to www.mycokerewards.com for more information or to set up an account. Every 3 points donated to Aquinas earns 5 cents for the school. Please contact me at Holycross4@aol.com with questions Collection Challenge: The final collection challenge deadline of the school year will be Thursday, April 23rd. Please send your Boxtops, Campbell's Labels, Tyson's A+ or Sunny D labels to your child's home room or the front office, with their name and home room written on the bag. Family Care Program: Meal Coordinator- Cecille Combs 703-590-0707. Please see the PTO page of the school website for more information about this program.

Parents in Prayer

Let Us Pray:

For the sister of Sister Martha Ann, Sister Mary Rita, for a speedy recovery from surgery. For the repose of the soul of Kevin Gillooly, Sr., grandfather of Audrey and Katie G. For the repose of the soul of Sharon, friend of the Owen family. For Blanca Ortiz, grandmother of Adrian D., that she be restored to full health. For the grandfather of Justin, Garrett and Evan F. that he is restored to full health. For the repose of the soul of Austin Hu, grandfather of Anastasia, Bernadette, Cecilia and Felicity R. For Aiden and Jeremiah Friason, brothers of Christopher C. and Nicklas F. that they be restored to full health. For the repose of the soul of Stevanna Karlinchak, grandmother of Michael K. For Mary Lenz and Sharon Crane, grandmothers of Rosie L, that they be restored to full health. For Anina Davis, mother of Audrey D., that she be restored to full health. For Kristen Grasser, cousin to Teresa and Erin E. for the safety and safe return from deployment. For Garland Collins, great-grandfather of Brooke C., that he be restored to full health. For Edmund Stawski, grandfather of Gabriella and Madeline S., that he be restored to full health. For Shawn McNulty, father of Kiernan, Faith, Maeve and Killian M., that his recovery from surgery is complete. For the repose of the soul of James Howard Doty, grandfather of Liberty D. For the repose of the soul of Robert Moss, father of Samantha M. For Samuel Carlos, grandfather of Samantha R., that he be taken care of during and after surgery.

The Connection (continued)

-St Thomas Aquinas Regional School admits students of any race, color, or national origin.

For Doug Irwin, grandfather of Kayley B., that his recovery from surgery is complete and he is restored to full health. For the repose of the soul of Maria Theresa Londres, mother of David and Bianca L. For the special intentions of St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School. For our Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions:

Universal: That those involved in scientific research may serve the well-being of the whole human person.

Evangelization: That the unique contribution of women to the life of the Church may be recognized always.

Prayer intentions for inclusion in the weekly connection may be sent to Naomi Zeray Daniel at naomidaniel28@gmail.com

OTHER Diocesan Family Science Night: On Tuesday, March 31, 2015, the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE; http://ncesse.org) and the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will be holding a Family Science Night. It is a school field trip to the Museum for families, after the close of normal hours, just for the parents, students, and educators from Arlington Diocese. The idea is to provide a family learning experience in the space sciences that are taught in the classroom. See the attached flyer. Saint John Paul the Great Gala: The Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School Family Association invites you to attend their 3rd Annual Gala and Auction on May 16, 2015. It will be a fun-filled evening for adults, in support of Catholic education! Ticket and sponsorship information may be found at http://www.jpthegreat.org/about-us/the-family-association/annual-gala/ or gala@jpthegreat.org or 703.45.0300.

The Connection Flyers Yearbook Flyer Band/Choir trip form Family Science Night Spaghetti Dinner/Bingo