Archive for the News Category

QUIET PRAYER
As we continue our journey through Lent and seek our destination of Easter and the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus, we are focused on prayer, fasting, and giving. Our challenge to each class is to start with 15 seconds of silent prayer. 15 seconds??? Yes, it might seem like no time at all, but try this at home to just sit still with your child for 15 seconds to listen for God. It will be challenging, but so rewarding!

WHO IS ONLINE?
May want to check this one out….you may recognize a few “Stars”. Visit the Bellevue New Democrat Online site for this “Good Samaritan” Follow-up:  http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article135445049.html


DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS
Please remember to set your clock forward Saturday night! If you forget, you will be one hour late to everything on Sunday! Get students to bed early on Sunday night, because Monday morning will be dark again, as they prepare for school.

SPELLING BEE
We will be cheering for Carre Webster, 6th grade, as she competes in the first round of the Regional Spelling Bee at McKendree University this Saturday. Students: Draw a Spelling Bee and give it to Mr Nickerson before 8 AM Friday.

BENEFIT DINNER:
We look forward to a wonderful Benefit Dinner on the 18th! Thank you for great support and basket items!

MEGA RAFFLE:
Each Ticket is $100, but you can win $10,000, $1,000, or $500 dollars! Can you sell a few tickets at church, to friends, to family? Only 300 tickets are sold, so the odds of winning are better than a lottery! Contact Ms. Karen Waide at the school (618) 397-0316.

REPORT CARD CONFERENCES
3rd Quarter ends next Friday, March 3rd. Report Card Conferences are on Thursday, March 16th. These are mandatory conferences. Sign-up requests are going home today.

There is no school on Thursday, March 16th or Friday, March 17th due to conferences.

2017-2018 EARLY REGISTRATION
Packets will be available at the Report Card Conference for returning families.

OPEN HOUSE and KINDERGARTEN TEA
Do you appreciate the education we provide at our school? Invite friends and family with grade school age children to our OPEN HOUSE or KINDERGARTEN TEA. Contact the office to set up an appointment 397-0397. YOU are our best advertisement!

OPEN HOUSE and KINDERGARTEN TEA: Wednesday, March 22: 9 -11AM or 1-3 PM
OPEN HOUSE: Thursday, March 23: 4-5 PM

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Somebody recently used the term “Alternate Facts”. I was very lucky that during my years in the military, we celebrated Black History Month with activities, luncheons, speeches, and enlightening articles in the military newspaper. Through these experiences, many of the “Alternate Facts” of our American and World History began to be erased, and they were replaced with real facts of a history rich in cultures, accomplishments, and contributions of people of African descent from across our globe. Don’t just celebrate; educate!

BENEFIT DINNER 

Our families are the heart of the Benefit Dinner, whether as guests or volunteers. We have a lot of work to do to make the Dinner a success financially and socially! Without you there, who can really tell our other guests about the impact this school has on your students?  Reserve your tickets now and keep tuition costs low!!! Benefit Dinner is March 18, 2017.

CAMP ONDESSONK

Our students have a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a week in the Summer at camp! Last week, they heard great stories about all the adventures. Camp Ondessonk offers several levels of payment and great scholarships! Check out their website for specifics on the essay needed for the scholarships:  https://ondessonk.com/giving/scholarships/ . Also on May 13^th, they have an Open House:  https://ondessonk.com/event/first-time-camper-open-house/ .

SPECIAL COLLECTION:We delivered a car full of needed items to help Syrian families sponsored by the St Louis International Institute. You all were so generous, and we received a heartfelt “Thank You” from the staff and families they serve! Thank you for your warm welcome gift for our “New Americans”!

NO SCHOOL FEBRUARY 20th

Celebrate President’s Day with your family!  No school!

SMART TUITION TAX STATEMENT

SMART TUITION has changed how they do Tax Statements. This year, we cannot print them, so please log onto SMART TUITION, Click on Family Year End Statement after you login, and you can print your statement.

NJHS INDUCTION CEREMONY

The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) will hold their Induction Ceremony for all new members on the 6^th of Feb immediately following 8:30 mass. All family and friends are warmly invited to attend!

You are cordially invited to the

Fourteenth Annual
Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School
Benefit Gala

Saturday, March 18th, 2017
Four Points by Sheraton
19 Fountains Parkway
Fairview Heights, IL 62208

Entertainment & Silent Auction 6:00 p.m.
Dinner 7:00 p.m.
Live Auction 8:30 p.m.

$50.00 per person
$500.00 per table sponsor of eight
Reservations required by February 20th, 2017

For more information
please contact Roberta Trost at [618] 397-0316
roberta_trost@yahoo.com

Evening Highlights

Zip Rzeppa – Master of Ceremonies

David Schumacher – Auctioneer

“Heart of Thea Foundation– Each One Teach One”

Fund-A-Need – Dollar for Dollar Match for Tuition Assistance Returns

Mega Raffle – Drawing the night of event
1st Prize $10,000
2nd Prize $1,000
3rd Prize $500
$100 per ticket
Need not be present to win

PRINTABLE INVITATION

PRINTABLE RSVP FORM

Alumni from Lincoln Senior High School (Class of ’69) visited our school and presented a check in the amount of $500.00 to support our View to the Future of Education – Window Campaign!

CHRISTMAS

May you find Peace and Joy this Christmas as we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ, Our Savior. Christmas is a time of Joy, and Hope for new beginnings. Our prayers will be with all of you this Christmas Season.

ADVENT SERVICE LAST REMINDER

Students at the chapel, no later than 6:40 so they can be ready. They need to wear: Plain white dress (button-down) shirt/blouse, plain dark blue or black slacks (no jeans, sweats, leggings, or dresses, dark dress shoes (no tennis shoes or heels).

CHRISTMAS BREAK

The last day of school is Tuesday, 20 December. We have 12:30 dismissal on Tuesday, and it is a Peacemaker Day. We return to school at 7:45 on Tuesday, 3 January.

WARM HATS, GLOVES, AND SCARVES

Our Christmas Tree is up by the front door, and we are decorating it with new gloves, hats, scarves, and socks to help Catholic Urban Programs (CUP) prepare for winter. If you can donate one of these winter items, we will take them to CUP before Christmas for distribution. Our families donated over 750 canned goods to them for Thanksgiving, so we hope we can get your great support again with this Christmas Drive! Please turn in donations by Dec 20^th!

NOW HIRING!!!  HELP WANTED:  LUNCH AND RECESS MONITORS NEEDED

We plan to hire two Lunch/Recess Monitors to start in January. The hours will be from 11:00 to 12:45 each school day. All employees at our school must complete an application, Child Protection Training, A Background Check, and Fingerprinting. If you are interested, we will start to take applications immediately. Please ask for an application at the office.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

STBCS families are invited to Christmas carol with St. Augustine of Hippo parish on Christmas Eve. We will meet at the church at 5:00 p.m. and carol throughout the neighborhood. We will return to the parish center at 6:30 p.m. and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate followed by Christmas Eve Mass at 7:00 p.m.
We will distribute parish evangelization cards and STBCS flyers while caroling. If you are interested in participating please contact Madonna Aldridge at 618-971-8298.

12:30 DISMISSAL DECEMBER 20

Our last day of classes is Tuesday, December 20. WE WILL DISMISS AT 12:30. 

NO BUS SERVICE DECEMBER 19 -20

Please join us for our Advent Prayer service. Thursday, December 15 8213 church lane.
“Carry God’s Light to Others”

ADVENT

During our second week of Advent, we celebrate and reflect on Peace. As Peacemakers in our school, we are asking our students to carry this important message to their families and all those they meet this Advent Season. We also pray for peace in our homes, neighborhoods, country, and world. May God bless each of you at least a few moments of Peace each day in this time of busy days of holiday preparation.

ADVENT SERVICE COMMITMENT FORM

We continue Advent Service Praise Dance and Violin preparations. Thank you for your support! Remember, you will enjoy the fruits of this labor on December 15 at 7 PM, so mark your calendars.

If you have not done so already, please sign the Advent Commitment Form and return it to the school tomorrow.

ADVENT SERVICE DRESS CODE

We ask you to please check clothes this weekend to be sure students are ready for Thursday Night. They need to wear: Plain white dress (button-down) shirt/blouse, plain dark blue or black slacks (no jeans, sweats, leggings, or dresses, dark dress shoes (no tennis shoes or heels).

WARM HATS, GLOVES, AND SCARVES

Our Christmas Tree is up by the front door, and we are decorating it with new gloves, hats, scarves, and socks to help Catholic Urban Programs (CUP) prepare for winter. If you can donate one of these winter items, we will take them to CUP before Christmas for distribution. Our families donated over 750 canned goods to them for Thanksgiving, so we hope we can get your great support again with this Christmas Drive! Please turn in donations by Dec 20^th!

UNIFORM ITEM

 Please remember that boots are only allowed on days when ice or snow are on the ground. All other days, including non-uniform days, require students to wear tennis shoes.

LUNCH AND RECESS MONITORS NEEDED

We plan to hire two Lunch/Recess Monitors to start in January. The hours will be from 11:00 to 12:45 each school day. All employees at our school must complete an application, Child Protection Training, A Background Check, and Fingerprinting. If you are interested, we will start to take applications immediately. Please ask for an application at the office.

SISTER THEA BOWMAN NIGHT AT MCALISTERS

Thank you to all the family, staff, students and friends that volunteered and ate food!!! The manager told me we tripled business for them that night, and we raised over $360 for new classroom windows!  GREAT JOB!!!!

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

STBCS families are invited to Christmas carol with St. Augustine of Hippo parish on Christmas Eve. We will meet at the church at 5:00 p.m. and carol throughout the neighborhood. We will return to the parish center at 6:30 p.m. and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate followed by Christmas Eve Mass at 7:00 p.m.
We will distribute parish evangelization cards and STBCS flyers while caroling. If you are interested in participating please contact Madonna Aldridge at 618-971-8298.

12:30 DISMISSAL DECEMBER 20

Our last day of classes is Tuesday, December 20. WE WILL DISMISS AT 12:30. Please mark your calendar for early pick-up, as we have no bus service that day.

NO BUS SERVICE DECEMBER 19 -20

FASTDIRECT

Fast Direct will be our primary means of communicating with families and staff for snow days, so please be sure you have current e-mail and texting information is in the system. Also, you should not opt-out of e-mail, if you want the message to go to your e-mail.

In with the new

Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School Night at Fairview Height’s McAlister’s Deli

101 Frey Lane, Fairview Heights, IL 62208

Wednesday, December 7th from 5pm to 8pm

MARK YOUR CALENDAR TODAY!!!

COME OUT and EAT to support Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School

“A View to the Future of Education”

PROCEEDS WILL GO TOWARDS NEW WINDOWS IN THE SCHOOL

McAlister’s will generously donate 10% of all sales to Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School!

The Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School 8th Grade Class answered the call from Catholic Urban Programs (CUP) to support their Thanksgiving Can Food Drive to support local families in need. They inspired the students and families of the school each day to “Have a Heart” and donate “Three Cans” each to make a goal of 500 cans. In less than two weeks time the 8th Grade Class had collected over 750 cans of food for those less fortunate families in their community. The students proudly brought cans to the altar during the Tuesday Thanksgiving Mass at the school, to serve as an offering and to say thank you to God for the many gifts they have in life.

The cans were then loaded in a pick-up truck and brought to CUP, so they can fill the food pantry shelves in time for distribution to local families. The students learned a valuable lesson about giving from their need, as they know that they are called always to share their gifts generously.

8th grade students loading the canned goods into the pick-up for delivery

cans at the altar, and students bringing up more to donate

VETERAN’S DAY

Although we will have school on Friday, Veteran’s Day, we will join our country in honoring our Veterans with our prayers and thoughts. I have been asked how somebody can be a military veteran and Peacemaker since they seem to be opposites. I remember a proud day when our 4-star General declared our new motto was “Peace is our Profession.” Our goal was to keep the peace in the world. Also, as a military member, I helped families and children in war-torn Bosnia and worked side-by-side with men trying to rebuild their broken nation in Afghanistan. No matter where our military went in the world, we met people just like Americans who wanted to “just raise their family in peace.” Military Veterans can be Peacemakers, so if you have a chance, thank a veteran for a little bit of peace that they brought to somebody in our world.

ADVENT SERVICE PREPARATION

We are starting Advent Service Praise Dance and Violin preparations. The practices will cause some schedule changes during the day, and some extra exercise for our students, so please let them know that this is an important part of our school culture of Faith Formation and Education Through Music and the Arts. You will enjoy the fruits of this labor on December 15 at 7 PM, so mark your calendars.

VOLUNTEERS

This school will only be successful with donation of your time and talents. Please contact the office for more details!

LUNCH AND RECESS MONITOR VOLUNTEERS

Can you volunteer one, two, or three times a week to serve as a Lunch/Recess Duty Monitor? We are looking for volunteers ASAP to help us with this very important duty. Several of our teachers are with your students non-stop from 7:45 until 3:30 without a break, so please consider signing up for this duty. If interested, please contact the office, or send a note with your student.

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION

The PTO held a meeting on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at 3:45 PM in the school library. Their first activity will be a Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School Night at McCalister’s on Dec 7. Mark your calendars and look for more information to come. We’ll need volunteers, and we get 10% of profits and all the tips. A great time to work, eat, and socialize! For more information, please contact Ms. Coates at cbchild@gmail.com.

NO BUSES ON FRIDAY, NOV 11

We are in school on Friday, 11 Nov, for Veteran’s Day, but there is no busing that day.

PICTURE RETAKE DAY

If you need your student’s picture redone, you must sign up for the pictures. Pictures will be taken on November 17. Students taking their picture can wear “picture clothes” to school, but they must bring their uniform to change into after the picture.

CANNED FOOD DRIVE

Our students and staff will collect canned food items for CUP starting Monday and lasting through Nov 22. We have a goal of 500 cans, which is three cans per student and staff member. We ask you to give generously, as all donations stay within the community!