Welcome to St. Ann Catholic School! We are thrilled to have you as part of our wonderful community! Here is some information to help you get your school year started.
This is the unofficial parent guide to St. Ann Catholic School, written by parents for parents. Here are some things that no one figures out until you have been around the block a couple of times. We can’t promise that everything is in here, but we sure included as much of it as we could. We hope this serves as a reference for you.
Table of Contents:
When you need to get a sitter
Uniforms
Back to School Night
Glossery of St. Ann Terms
When you need to get a sitter (adults only events):
-Back to School Night
-Fall Festival
-Field Trips (If you want to volunteer to chaperone)
Dennis Uniform is the approved retailer to buy your uniform. It is the only place you can get a new girl’s jumper or skirt and the school approved sweatshirt or sweater with the St. Ann crest. There are opportunities at the Popsicle Party to buy used ones. Stores like Target, Gap, Old Navy and Land’s End have uniform pants and shirts that match the uniform items that Dennis carries.
Remember these important things when you buy.....
Buy extra white shirts! It’s hard keeping those shirts white!
Do not buy a white polo shirt that has a logo or symbol.
Retails stores have the navy blue pants on sale in the summer and shorts in the winter. But in August before school starts, they are all back to full price in preparation for school. Look for the specials all year round.
Bleach is a great thing to invest in when school starts. Oxi Clean is another great cleaner to soak those white shirts in.
The things you need to do at Back to School Night
Meet new people.
Parents Only, No Children
Kindergarten parent session will begin at 6:00 pm.
Grades 1-8 parent session will begin at 6:30 pm.
You will get to meet your child’s Teacher during 20 minute sessions when they give presentations to the parents in their classrooms. There are several presentations made that night in case you have multiple children.
Sign up in the classroom and the gym for volunteer opportunities.
Consider buying a mini copy of the school directory/calendar. You can keep it in your car for quick reference of addresses and phone numbers when driving to your child’s friend’s house. Also keep one at the office and one at home.
Weekly Newsletters - This is the 1st most important thing you will check all year. The office will email a newsletter each Friday. Read those as soon as you can. These emailed newsletters will contain information regarding upcoming events, reminders, announcements, etc.
Back Pack Mail - The 2nd most important thing you will check all year. Teachers and parents will send information home in your child’s folder and back pack. Information as important as.....
Report Cards
School Registration Forms
Permission Slips
Notes from the teacher
Lunch money balance
The list continues......
Popsicle Party- This is held on August 16. The whole family is invited to explore the school, meet the teachers, and drop off their school supplies. Gently used uniforms will be sold for a minimal price.
Virtus Training - Is a two hour training course that all volunteer parents at school must attend! If you plan on volunteering any time during the year to be in the classroom or on field trips, start looking into training courses now. You can find training session here.
Mass - All students attend Mass on Wednesdays at 8:10 AM.
Faith Family - A group made up of two students from each grade and a teacher. Your child will participate in special projects together throughout the year.
Spirit Day - One Friday each month, we celebrate our school spirit. Your child will be able to wear a St. Ann’s Spirit Wear shirt (St. Ann t-shirt or St. Ann team jersey) with jeans or uniform length shorts.
Spirit Day Cafe - On Spirit days, the cafeteria will not serve regular hot lunch. Instead, we’ll serve pizza. You will be given an opportunity to buy that pizza for your child or pack a sack lunch for your kids. The order form will come to you via back-pack mail.
Spirit Night - Throughout the year, St. Ann Catholic School will invite you to join the whole school at a specific restaurant. The restaurants give St. Ann a specific portion of the proceeds. (We basically take over the restaurants!)
Trunk or Treat - St. Ann families gather in the closed parking lot. You can decorate your car and the kids can safely trick or treat. Everyone tailgates from their cars, and pizza is sold as a fundraiser.
PTO Adult Trivia Night - This is a great night to meet more parents at St.Ann Catholic School. This evening is for adults only. In the past it has taken place in January or Febraury, details are shared in Friday Enewletters.
Near and Dear Day - Grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents and/or special adult friends come and visit for a special afternoon of activities and Mass.
Talent Show - Kids alone or in groups can show off their talents. Look for the signup sheet in your child’s back pack before Christmas break. The show takes place during Catholic Schools Week.
Fall Production - This performance is put on by a select group of junior high students. The show is performed at school in the afternoon and in the evening for all to see.
Christmas Program - This is a lovely program by grades K-3.
Spring Fling - This a special performance by the 4th-6th grades.
May Crowning- The May Crowning Rosary is very special. It’s led by 1st graders, who pay tribute to the Blessed Mother and their own mothers.
Tiger Trot - The students and parents fundraise for a specific school-wide cause, then students and staff celebrate with a day of fun activities. All family is welcome, and parent volunteers are appreciated.
Field Day - All grades celebrate toward the end of the year. Parent volunteers are always needed.
Book Fair - This is a spring event, sponsored by Scholastic Books. Your child will visit the Book Fair with his/her class and may purchase books if you send him or her with money. The fair is also open after school and after mass so you will have many opportunities to browse and buy books. Volunteers are always needed.
AOK (“Acts of Kindness”) - This is school-wide outreach service program. Each grade sponsors a project during the school year. You will receive information about the activity via back pack or email. A parent volunteer is in charge of organizing each project.
Secret Pal - This is an opportunity for parents to give our staff an extra thank you. If you choose to volunteer you will be assigned a staff member at St. Ann Catholic School and will be their Secret Pal all year. You can spoil them with small surprises each month, then reveal yourself at the end of the year. You can sign up at Back to School Night.
SCRIP- This is a fundraiser the school and church participate in all year long. You can purchase a gift cards to popular retailers for your personal use or as a gift. A percentage of your SCRIP purchase goes back to St. Ann Catholic School and a percentage comes back to you!
Welcome, welcome, welcome to St. Ann Catholic School. We’re so glad you’re part of our community!