Hi-lites week of May 13^th, 2010

Dear Parents and Guardians,

A week of rain can test the soul of even the most experienced teacher-too many days of inside recess!  We are praying for a spot of sunshine.

These are busy times as we end the school year.  At the same time we are also gearing up for the start of a new one.  Thanks to the success of Swing 2010, the hard work of Bill Elmquist, our Business Administrator and the advice of LCCC Finance Chair, Jim Kleinberg, I have submitted a 2010-11 budget to Fr. Paul Feela for his approval.  I anticipate having all of the information for our new tuition contracts by next week.

This is not the timetable that we would like to have for setting tuition, but there are many factors involved, particularly establishing the parish subsidy for the support of Highland Catholic School.  These are hard times and I appreciate the hard work and visioning of the leadership at LCCC in providing the same level of support for our school as in years past.

Please look for contracts to come home next week and it would be great to have them signed and in hand before that fabulous end-of-the-year picnic.

Jane Schmidt
Principal

Schools Unite for Good Health!

Tomorrow, Friday morning, our second grade teachers, Judy Litecky and Molly Nelson will be leading our school representatives on the second annual "Relay Walk" to promote health and fitness at area schools.  Students from Highland Elementary and Middle School will be handing off the baton to our students:  Michael Tipping, Mimi Lynch, George Brenzel, Alyssa Ellingson, Nathan Rowley, Georgia Nelson, Patrick Rosemark and Austin Sheperd.

The HCS crew will carry the baton straight down Kenneth to Horace Mann Elementary School.  If you are in the neighborhood, be sure to honk and wave in encouragement.  Thanks to our Physical Education teacher, Rob Petersen, for organizing this healthy effort.

Picnic Fun on the Horizon

Don't miss the annual End-of-the-Year Picnic at Hillcrest Park on Wednesday, June 2^nd from 5-7 p.m.  Our wonderful Home and School will provide a delicious hotdog/brat meal with all of the fixings for only $2/kid and $3/adult.  The inflatable has been ordered and our prayers are for sunny weather.  Come and visit with students, teachers, and other parents as we celebrate the end of a wonderful school year.

 Tuition Payments

At this time, all tuition is due.  Please give this your immediate attention. 

VBS College Staff Needed!

Are you a college student? Do you like working with kids and praising God? Are you looking for a bit of extra cash? Have we got the plan for you!!  We are currently looking to hire 3 more college staff to help us run the Vacation Bible School program this summer. You would need to be available to help with training dates (June 8, 10, 12, & 15), prep work (June 14-18), and VBS week (June 21-25). If you are interested in being considered for a college staff position, please contact Lindsey Swanson, at 651.699/1378 x3008 by Friday, May 28 at Noon!

Lunch News

Please submit all payments for outstanding lunches by Friday, May 21^st.  We want to close out those accounts.  Also, any balance remaining on a student HIVE card will be carried forward to next fall.  Eighth graders spend those cards down!

And about next year, we will be offering larger denominations ($20 and $50 amounts) for hive cards and encourage "family" cards to be used among siblings, rather than individual ones.  (This should help the line go a little quicker!)  Also, because that line is sometimes lengthy, we are asking that your kids bring money (& checks) for new cards to the office, rather than the lunchroom.  The card will be ready for them in the lunchroom that day.  We LOVE that HIVE.

Here are some of those important reminders for this time of the year:

1.  Spring Picture orders are due in the office by Friday, May 14th
2.  Please pay any outstanding hot lunch / tuition accounts.
3.  Please RSVP if you are coming to the Spring Band / Choir concert on May 23rd.
4.  Please return all Extra Innings forms for next year, and especially, summer registrations.We need those numbers are in order to order T-shirts and plan field trips.
5.  All Library Books are due back by May 21^st.  Look under those beds.

Date Night??

There is still room in the Babysitting Night being sponsored by Destination Imagination at Highland Catholic.  You can enjoy a night out while leaving your pre-school-fifth grade children for their own evening of fun in the Hi-C gym.

We have loads of fun activities planned--guaranteed to tire them out!

 The date is this Friday, May 14th from 6:30-10 PM

Cost is $15 per child or $25 per family. 

For  more information, contact Carol Broadnax at c.broadnax@highlandcatholic.org

Financial Aid

Families in need of tuition assistance for the upcoming school year are required to complete a TADS application.  Directions for this online application are available from Peggy Gernes in the school office.  Those applications need to be submitted before June 1^st.  Thank you.

 Solo Festival

Congratulations and good luck to our 6^th graders, who are performing in the Band Solo Festival tomorrow.  Our musical participants are Jackie Radford, Sam Carlen, Emily Kinne, and Kate Grumbles.  A judge will be here to grade their musicianship.

Upcoming Dates:

Friday, May 14^th         -Egg Drop on Kenneth Lawn - approximately 1:00 p.m.

                                    -7^th Graders leave for Concordia Language Camp

Saturday, May 15^th      - Ramsey County Garden Club Plant Sale in our cafeteria

Monday, May 17^th      -8^th Graders leave for their camping trip

                                    -Parent Support Group, for Parents with Children with Learning Differences

                                     7 p.m. in School Library All are welcome.

                                    -8^th graders essays for Home and School Scholarships are due

Tuesday, May 18^th      -Fr. Paul celebrates Mass with 8^th grade campers

                                    -School Patrol Picnic

Wednesday, May 19^th -All School Mass at Noon   Please join us for this last Mass of this school year.  The kinders will be leading our celebration.

Thursday, May 20^th     -Third grade to Gibbs Farm

                                    -Group of 6^th graders visit Dead Sea Scrolls

Friday, May 21^st          -Fifth Graders visit Minnesota History Center

Sunday, May 23^rd       -Choir and Band Concert in HCS cafeteria - Please R.S.V.P. to school Tuesday, May 25^th  -Seventh Graders challenge parents and faculty in knowledge of music of the 60's, 70's and 80's - Rock on!

                                    -Kindergarten Potluck in Cafeteria

Friday, May 28^th         -Last Day for 8^th Graders

Monday, May 31^st       -Memorial Day-No School

Tuesday, June 1^st         -Graduation Breakfast and rehearsal

                                    -Graduation Mass at 7 p.m. followed by reception in Community Room

Wednesday, June 2^nd   -Last day of the 2009-10 school year

                                    -Prayer service at 2 p.m.

                                    -Students will be dismissed from classrooms at 2:50 p.m.

                                    -Picnic from 5-7 p.m. at Hillcrest

Thursday, June 3^rd      -Faculy Inservice Day

                                    -SUMMER!

Report cards for all grades will be mailed out during the second week of June.  Class assignments for next year will be in the mail in August.  We do have new students joining us in many grades.  Please let me know if you would be willing to host a play date for a new student to meet some classmates during the summer months.  Send me a note at j.schmidt@highlandcatholic.org  Thanks.