Hi-lites Week of May 6, 2010

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It appears that I missed the best party of the century!  Swing 2010!  Thanks to our incredible co-chairs, Julie Jandrich and Bronagh MacCafferty (Steve and Liam, too) we are still counting the money!  I heard so many reports of what a great time people had, how clever the decorations were, the delicious food, how welcome everyone felt and how apparent the support was for our school!  Thanks to every single committee chair, our sponsors, and to our entire parish and school community for their wonderful participation!

The Memphis wedding of my godson was lovely, In-between the tornado sirens and 13 inches of rain, he managed to marry a wonderful girl in a beautiful ceremony.  It was so much fun to attend a southern wedding with barbecues and champagne brunches-loads of southern hospitality.  I could get used to being called, "Miss Jane and ma'am."

Jane Schmidt
Principal

Spring Band and Choir Concert

With all the things being scheduled during this time of year, it has been a challenge to say the least to find a time that works for the Band/Choir concert.  The previously announced date/time needs to be changed, and hopefully this will not be too much of an inconvenience for anyone.   We hope to see as many people as possible come to support and enjoy all the hard work the students / teachers have done throughout the year.

The Band / Choir concert will be held on SUNDAY, MAY 23rd, at 4:00 PM.  in the school CAFETERIA.  Ice cream will be served afterward, so please RSVP by calling the school office and let us know how many will be coming.

For those who already sent in an RSVP for the previous date, so sorry, but could you please call again so that we know that this new date will work for you as well?  

Thanks for your understanding and we hope to see you on the 23rd.

Summer Extra Innings is accepting summer registration.  Please contact Ms. Jen Seger at j.seger@highlandcatholic.  Summer Extra Innings is a fabulous program with loads of outside activities, twice weekly trips to the pool, arts, crafts, outings and other exciting times with classmates!  You might consider it for even occasional use.

Just a cheerful reminder that cell phones and other personal electronics are to remain in backpacks during the school day.  Gadgets that find their way out of backpacks during the school day are held at the office until a parent/guardian can retrieve them.  We don't mind holding them for extra days if it helps "make the point."  Thanks for your attention to this.

Hello All-

For those of you that have not met me, I am Heidi Giuliani. My husband, Tony, is an alumni of Highland Catholic School and we have kinder in Ms. Schmidt's class. We also have a four year old, which is what this notice is about.  He was diagnosed with eye cancer at 9 months old. He continues to battle this disease three and a half years later.  Most recently he underwent a radiation treatment, and results have been positive since.

Last week a flyer went home. I wanted to provide a little background information on what we are doing.  Since we have seen first hand the impacts of cancer, we have become very passionate about finding a cure, for not only Drew, but for many of the other wonderful kids we have met along the way.  Three years ago we started participating in an event called the Time to Fly. It is a run/walk for the Children's Cancer Research Fund supporting cutting edge research at the University of Minnesota.  We can say first had this research matter, because through these research dollars they developed one of the treatments frequently used on Drew.  Our team, Team Drew, has grown over the past three years, and we hope to have over 100 people and raise $10K.  We are fast approaching our goal, and have reached out to the HCS community to help us get there. 

We have placed jars in each homeroom.  All the students have to do is put the change they bring in the jar.  The event will run for two weeks, and my husband will collect the bins at the end of week 1 and 2. The homeroom that raises the most will be awarded a pizza party, complete with pizza, soda and cookies 

Kids understand the need to help.  If you were to ask Jack, Drew's kindergarten brother, why he does it, he would say, "To help kids get better".  Drew will tell you he does it for the kids with bumps like him.  It is a great opportunity for the kids to do something small for another kid in need.

If anyone has any additional questions about the event, is interested in joining Drew's Team, please do not hesitate to contact us.  We are always open and willing to talk about our Drew.

Thank you for your support!!!!!  Here is the Team Drew website and blog:

http://support.childrenscancer.org/site/TR/Events/TimetoFly?team_id=3280&pg=team&fr_id=1150

http://drewgiuliani.blogspot.com/

Vacation Bible School

Parents interested in Vacation Bible School for their child are asked to register and submit payment by May 15^th.  There is more information on the Lumen Christi Catholic Community website.   What a wonderful summer opportunityl

Hot Lunch Balances

If you have an outstanding balance with your hot lunch orders, please stop and see Mrs. Amundsen in the office to get that resolved before school ends.  Thank you.

Congratulations to the following students:

Bridget Carruth--received a fourth place medal in the Fifth Grade Math Masters Competition on Friday, April 30.  There were over 200 students competing!  Bridget brought home a medal in individual problem solving.  Thanks also to Mr. John Gimpl and Mr. John Bielinski for leading our math-letes.  Seventeen fifth grade students could be found every Tuesday morning before school honing their skills.

Abby Turbenson and Isabella Kehoe both received trophies at the Young Inventors Fair on Saturday, May 1.  Abby received an award for "Thinking Outside the Box" presented by Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association (MIPLA). Isabella's invention was selected for extended display at the Science Museum of Minnesota.  It will be on display for the next six weeks.

Going Global

On behalf of the Destination Imagination program at Highland Catholic School and the "Things With Strings" team that is traveling to Global Finals in Tennessee, we would like to thank all of the families who are so enthusiastically supporting the team's fundraising efforts.  We were overwhelmed by the number of families who came to Davanni's on Tuesday night for pizza.  What a fun event that was--thanks to all of you being there.

Our next Davani's night is Monday, May 17^th, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.  Be there or be square!

The DI team will be leaving for Tennessee at the end of May.  There will be teams from over 130 different countries in attendance.  "Things With Strings" will proudly represent Highland Catholic School!

Upcoming Dates:  There are a million!

Friday, May 7^th           No School-Teacher Inservice Day
Thursday, May 13^th     Kindergarten Egg Drop   Come and join the fun at 1:00 p.m..  All welcome!
Friday, May 14^th         7^th graders leave for Concordia Language Camp ¡Que to vaya bien!
Saturday, May 15^th      Ramsey County Garden Club Sale in cafeteria
May 15-16^th                Ministry Fair at LCCC -  Find ways to share your talents!
Monday, May 17^th      8^th Graders leave for camping trip
Monday, May 17^th      Parent Support Group (Children with learning differences.)  7 p.m. Library
Tuesday, May 18^th      School Patrol Picnic  We love our patrols!
Wednesday, May 19^th All School Mass at Noon  Please join us.
Sunday, May 23^rd       Choir and Band Concert
Tuesday, May 25^th      Kinder Potluck for Kinders and parents.
Friday, May 28^th         Last day for 8^th graders
Monday, May 31^st       Memorial Day - No school.
Tuesday, June 1^st         Graduation
Wednesday, June 2^nd   Last day of school - Closing Prayer Service 2 p.m. Picnic 5-7 p.m.

Volunteer for the Hive! (next year-2010-11)

THIS IS THE FORM THAT WENT HOME WITH HI-LITES!  PLEASE FILL IT OUT AND RETURN IT TO THE OFFICE ASAP.  WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP!

Dear Parents,

We are putting together the schedule for next year's Hive and kitchen help volunteers. Sign up for this fun and highly valued opportunity! Parent Missy Gleason will be the volunteer coordinator. Please return the bottom portion of this form to the school office ASAP. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

2010-11 Hive volunteer hours:  10:45 a.m. -12 noon

                 Commitment:  Same day (of your choosing) every other week.

                                  ie: Wednesday, Sept. 8, 22, Oct. 6, 20, etc.

Contact info: Name_____________________________________________________________

Phone ( best # to reach or leave message)_______________________

Email______________________________________________________________

Sign me up for this day of the week____________________________________________

 _________Sorry, next year I'm unable to help with the Hive/kitchen.

The Hive has been a wonderful addition to our lunch-time offerings.  The healthy and fresh choices are popular with students and teachers alike.