“The world is moving so fast now-a-days that the man who says it

can’t be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it.” 

                                                        Elbert Hubbard, American Writer

 

May 7, 2008

 

Dear Parents,

 

We have certainly been busy for the past week with plenty of activities.  On Wednesday, April 30th, our OLLS Singers participated in the first diocesan Hymn Festival at Cardinal Gibbons High School.  Almost four hundred students representing ten schools opened the event with the combined choirs singing “Dona Nobis Pacem.”  Then the individual schools presented two hymns.  Our choir sang “Pie Jesu” and “Go Down Moses.”  The event closed with the combined choirs singing “Song of the Cross.”   Our music teacher, Mr. Ben Tomczak, played an important part in organizing this event by serving as one of the co-chairs.  I want to thank Mr. Tomczak and our choir for doing an excellent job at this Hymn Festival and for being fine representatives of our school.

 

Dominick, one our eighth graders, served as Student Principal for the Day on Thursday, May 1st.  Dominick’s parents purchased this item at our HASA Auction last November.  He began his day by greeting the students as they arrived at school that morning.  He then made visits to each classroom to talk to the students.  Since he was principal, he took over my office for a good part of the day.  As a result I was sent to “exile island” in the conference room.  Dominick spent a good part of the day supervising the five lunch periods.  He handed out ice cream sandwiches as a special student and teacher treat.  Several students committed that they would like to have him as their regular principal if he would give them ice cream each day.  Dominick completed his principalship by closing the day with a PA announcement and helping with front carpool.

 

On Friday, May 2nd, our middle school students participated in their last electives program for this school year.  Students spent time learning sign language, fly fishing, rosary making, and digital photography.  They also experienced cooking, kick boxing, gardening, and two types of crafts.  A unique elective this time was a virtual tour of Indonesia.  Mr. Stew Esposito, a friend of one of our parents, has spent a great deal of time in Indonesia.  He showed the students all that Indonesia has to offer to a visitor.  I want to thank Mrs. Susie Getter for once again organizing a successful morning of electives.

 

Our seventy-four school and parish children received their First Eucharist on Saturday, May 3rd.  We had a beautiful liturgy for them in the church with Father John Forbes as the celebrant.  It was so good to see all these young ladies and men dressed up for this special occasion.  I want to thank Ms. Joan Rose, Director of Faith Formation, for her organization of this religious event.  I also want to thank Mrs. Liz Frinzl and Mrs. Helen Will from the school and Mrs. Andrea Pacyna, Mrs. Dawn Thompson, and Mrs. Adele Todd from the parish for providing the religious preparation for our children.  After the liturgy everyone moved to the Fallon Center for an outstanding reception.  I want to thank Mrs. Laura DiGirolamo for chairing this event this year and for the past five years.  She will be “passing the baton” to Mrs. Regina Sriraman who will chair this event next year.  Mrs. DiGirolamo asked me to thank the following people for chairing the various committees for this year’s reception:  Mrs. Deb Dornan (set-up), Mrs. Tiffany Jancuska and Mrs. Debra Phillips (decorations), Mrs. Mitzi Marullo (food prep and serving) and Mr. Greg Stewart (clean-up).  Of course, I want to recognize all the first and third grade school parents and the Faith Formation parents for their assistance with the food and other work that needed to be done to make our First Eucharist a special day for everyone.

 

The weather for HASA’s “A Blue Ribbon Day!” Spring Festival turned out to be sunny and hot so the event could be held outside.  Lots of good food, creative games, and fun activities kept the crowd occupied all afternoon.  Parents had the opportunity to purchase their children’s class creations and buy tickets for the class baskets and the Zaytoun Orthodontics Tuition Raffle.  As I moved around the campus, I kept hearing from families how much they were enjoying their time at this event.  I want to offer special kudos to Mrs. Michelle Kaney for chairing the Spring Festival.  From the minute she took on this event, she offered creative ideas, strong organization, and fun-filled ways to keep everyone entertained from the youngest members of the families to our middle school students.  Mrs. Kaney has agreed to chair this event again next year.  In addition, I want to thank Mrs. Judy Geaslen as HASA Fundraising Chair for working so closely with Mrs. Kaney.  Finally, I want to thank the many parents and students for volunteering to work this important event.  Without your willingness to assist with this fundraiser, we could not have had such a successful day.

 

Allow me to close this week’s letter with the following announcements.  First of all, please join us tomorrow night for our HASA Teacher Farewell.  The event will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Fallon Center.  Second, please join us on Monday, May 12th, for our annual May Crowning at 2:00 p.m. in the church.  This is a special paraliturgy that we do each year in honor of Mary, the mother of God.  In addition, in your mailer today is a letter from Birthchoice concerning the baby bottles that will be going home next Monday.  Each student will be asked to fill his or her bottle with coins and paper money to help this worthy organization.  I realize that we are coming to the end of the school year, but I am asking students and their families to be as generous as possible.  We were asked to do this baby bottle campaign during Lent, but since we had Rice Bowl going on at that time, the staff wanted to incorporate it together with May Crowning and the month of May.  Also, I hope to see many of our families at our annual Band & Choral Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 13th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fallon Center.  Mr. Don Martin and his band and Mr. Ben Tomczak and his students have been working hard to present an evening of instrumental and vocal music.  Last but not least, our fingers are crossed for good weather this Friday for our Field Day.  Students should wear their PE uniforms.  Older girls, if wearing white tee-shirts, should wear a double tee-shirt.  School will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m.   If Field Day is postponed on Friday due to poor weather, we will have school until 2:40 p.m.  The rain date for Field Day is Friday, May 16th.  If Field Day is held on May 16th, student will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m.  If Field Day is not held on this day, students will have a regular dismissal at 2:40 p.m.   

 

Blessings,

 

 

 

Robert B. Scripko, Ph.D.

Principal