Crusader Connections

Father Andrew White S.J. School Newsletter

October 31, 2023

🗓️ Important Dates

November 1: Winter Uniforms Begin & All Saints' Day (8:30am Mass hosted by 3rd Grade)

Wreath and Poinsettia Sales begin!

November 3: Grades 3-5 Field Trip

November 4: SVdP Friends of the Poor Walk

November 4-5: Varsity Basketball Tip Off Tournament

November 8: Home and School Association (HSA) Parent Meeting, 6:30pm

November 8-9: Parent/Teacher Conferences

November 9: Early Dismissal, 12:30pm

November 10: No School - Happy Veterans Day!

November 14: American Legion Visits

November 17: Thanksgiving Luncheon

November 20 - 24: No School - Happy Thanksgiving!

November 29: High School Placement Test (8th Grade) & Science/History Fair Projects Due

November 30: Science/History Fair

Box of Joy Program - DUE TOMORROW!!!!

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FAW School is proud to partner with the Knights of Columbus and Cross Catholic Outreach in the Box of Joy Program. Pick up an empty Box of Joy at the school and fill it with toys, school supplies, hygiene items, clothing, and accessories for either a boy or a girl. These shoebox sized boxes will be distributed in time for Christmas in South American countries to children in rural areas who have basically nothing. Please include a $9 check payable to "Cross Catholic Outreach" to pay for shipping. It would be helpful if you put that check in a marked envelope and sent it to the school office (instead of putting it inside the shoebox). Boxes are due by November 1st. Thank you for helping a needy child celebrate the birth of our Lord!

Take Note: Winter Uniforms will begin tomorrow, November 1st!

Our winter uniforms will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, November 1st. Please be sure to check our Parent/Student Handbook for our uniform policy. If you have any uniforms your children have outgrown, kindly consider donating them for others to use. You may drop off unstained and washed uniforms in the basket located in the school vestibule. If you are in need of used uniforms, you are welcome to contact our coordinator at sheli.laney@live.com.

Science and History Fair Judges (volunteers) are Needed!

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The Father Andrew White School Science & History Fair will be held Thursday, November 30, 2023. We are in need of judges and people to coordinate the children on this day. Students from 5th through 8th grades will be participating. This volunteer opportunity would last from 8:45 - 11:30am. Judges are asked to meet in the gym at 8:45am. Coffee and donuts will be provided. If you can help us in any way, please complete this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScDCz1FWnpJnixCzjCkiM3z2_KeedB97NOrzQfiHTzjSCjdxA/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

Volunteer Form for Science and History Fair Judges

Click here 👆 to sign up to be a judge for our Science and History Fair.

Cross Country Meet

Our Last Meet

🏃‍♀️ Our final Cross Country Meet will be tomorrow, Wednesday, November 1st at King's Christian Academy. Both grade school and middle school will run together at 4:15pm. We hope you will be there to cheer on our student athletes!

Book Fair - Thank You

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Thank you to all who helped with the Book Fair! We especially want to thank Mrs. Hinkle for all the behind the scenes work it takes to manage, setup, run, and break down a Book Fair. Our students and families appreciate her efforts and those of the volunteers who assisted. Thank you all!

Fall Fun Day - Thank You

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What a wonderful time we all had at the Fall Fun Day! It was so nice to have this event back up and running. A very special thank you goes to Mrs. Pietsch who spent countless hours organizing and making sure it would indeed be a fun day! We are grateful for Mrs. Lisa Beavan who assisted as well as many other volunteers. We appreciate the team effort to bring back one of the most fun days of the year for our students (and staff)!

Friends of the Poor Walk - This Saturday!

The St. Vincent de Paul Friends of the Poor Walk has been rescheduled for this Saturday, November 4th at 9am. The walk will begin at Father Andrew White School and the course will take walkers through the streets of Historic Leonardtown. There will be a post walk brunch, music, a silent auction, balloons/door prizes. There is no registration fee, but walkers are encouraged to collect pledges or donate to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Same day registration begins at 7:30am. We hope to see many of you there!

🏀 Basketball Tip Off Tournament 🏀

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Our Tip Off Basketball Tournament will begin this Saturday, November 4th at Archbishop Neale School. Come cheer on your Varsity Boys and Girls teams!

BOYS: 3:15pm (FAW vs SMS)
GIRLS: 4:30pm (FAW vs OLSS)

📣 Go Crusaders! 📣

FAW Thanksgiving Luncheon

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Please read the Thanksgiving Luncheon flyer for many important details!

We are excited to bring back this beloved FAW tradition!

Reserve Lunch A: 11:15AM - 12PM

Reserve Lunch B: 12 - 12:45PM

Reserve Lunch C: 12:45 - 1:30PM

Save the Date!

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We are looking for volunteers and planners for our Jingle Bell Fun Run, scheduled for Saturday, December 2nd at St. Mary's Ryken High School. If you are available and willing, please contact Rich Spadaccini at rspadaccini@gmail.com.

Parent/Teacher Conference Sign Ups

The link for Parent/Teacher Conference Sign Ups was emailed out last week. Please check your email and be sure to sign up as spots are filling up for this very important meeting concerning your child’s progress. This year conferences will be held from 3- 6pm on the afternoon of November 8th and 1-6pm on November 9th. Report cards for the first quarter will be given to parents at the conferences.

🎄 Stockings for Soldiers 🎄

Save the Date: Make Up Picture Day: December 11, 2023

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If your child was absent for our school picture day or would like to retake his/her picture, please mark your calendar for our make up day: December 11, 2023.

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2024-2025 TADS Tuition Assistance Program

Applications for next year’s Archdiocesan Tuition Assistance Program are now available. Families may apply online by logging on to https://adwcatholicschools.org/tuition-assistance/.

On the top toolbar, hover over “TUITION ASSISTANCE” and then click on the “ARCHDIOCESAN TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM” link at the top of the menu. Any families who think they will need tuition assistance for the 2024-2025 school year MUST APPLY THROUGH THIS ADW PROGRAM FIRST, before asking for aid from FAW.

The TADS admissions portal is accessible for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle for all archdiocesan elementary schools.

TADS tuition assistance deadline: February 16, 2024

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Celebrating Halloween can be a little “tricky” for us Christians, especially at a Catholic school. Fortunately, we have things like Fall Fun Day and All Saints Day, to commemorate God’s glory in this beautiful season and through special people. If you do participate in trick-or-treating, you’re all too familiar with the massive amounts of sugar associated with this tradition! I like to emphasize the importance of “everything in moderation.” Aside from causing tummyaches, too much sugar can also contribute to tooth decay and chronic inflammation. For some people, this day can bring about stress for other reasons, such as those dealing with food allergies, anxiety, and autism. Fortunately, there are now designated colors to help with this. A blue pumpkin signals that a home is welcoming for anyone on the autism spectrum, while a child carrying a blue pumpkin/ bucket signals that child is on the autism spectrum. Similarly, the Teal Pumpkin Project seeks to help those with food allergies. By putting a teal pumpkin on your doorstep, it means you have non-food treats available, such as glow sticks or small toys.