Our Spiritual Theme
Our Spiritual Theme: We Walk by Faith
January Focus: We Walk by Faith... in Fortitude
Spiritual Reflection by Miss Sheila O'Callaghan
We are now in Ordinary Time. Remember, we still try to pray well and Walk by Faith.
Nature can be very harsh during January. It is the hardest time of the year, especially for the poor. We want to remember that hungry and homeless people need our help. Our December Mission Money was given to the St. Vincent de Paul Society to help the poor. They thank us for reaching out to help others.
Sunday, January 19, is the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. We have several saints to celebrate this week. On Monday, January 20, we remember St. Sebastian, Martyr.
Also remembered on January 20, is Saint Fabian, Pope and Martyr. According to St. Cyprian, Pope Fabian, was a very holy man. Because of his holiness he was chosen to be pope, even though he was a lay person. As Pope, Fabian divided the city of Rome into seven parts and appointed a deacon for each part. The deacons were to care for the poor. Pope Fabian was put to death for his faith in the year 250.
January 21, is the memorial of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr. She died for her faith at the age of 12. The name Agnes means “pure” in the Greek language. In the Latin language, the name Agnes sounds like “agnus”, which means “lamb”. St. Agnes reminds people of lambs and purity. On this day in Rome, several lambs are blessed. Their wool is used to make stoles for new bishops.
St. Francis de Sales is memorialized on January 24. At the time St. Francis de Sales lived, many people doubted their faith. When Francis became a bishop, he brought many people back to the peace and love of Jesus. He loved children and encouraged them to be considerate and respectful. Remember, St. Francis de Sales is the Patron Saint of the Diocese of Wilmington.
January 25, is the feast of the conversion of St. Paul. Paul was an important missionary of the early Church. He wrote many letters. Many of these letters were saved and became part of the Christian Bible. In the years before Paul helped the church, he attacked Christians. Paul is a Greek name. In the Hebrew language, his name was Saul. In the book of Acts you can read about Paul’s conversion. Acts 22: 4-8, 11-16.
Once again, we encourage you to Walk by Faith and heed the words of Saint Francis de Sales: “Be considerate and respectful.” Ask our loving God to send his Holy Spirit to help us.
Please pray for the sick, especially Fr. Mink, Mrs. Miriam Harris, Oliver Conaty, and all the sick of our parish. Please continue to pray for Maureen Engelbert. Pray also for our Armed Forces and First Responders.
Notes from the Admissions Office
Vision for the Future Tuition Assistance - Deadline 13 Days Away!
COMPLETED APPLICATIONS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 1/31/25
Applications and all required documentation for the 2025-2026 school year must be received by FACTS no later than January 31, 2025. Tuition assistance through the Diocese of Wilmington is provided to children attending Grades K-12. Families currently receiving tuition assistance from the diocese must reapply. Assistance is not automatically renewed from year to year. 2023 W2 statements are accepted. A family does not need to wait for the 2024 W2 statement. Award notifications will begin as of March 1, 2025. Families seeking tuition assistance from St. Ann School directly will only be considered after first completing this Vision for the Future application.
Please scroll to the bottom of our tuition and fees page for application details.
Nurse Kerr's Corner
It is important to inform families that we have seen an uptick in illness at St. Ann's, consistent with increased rates of illness such as the flu and RSV in the community at large. We request your attention to the following policies outlined in our handbook (in italics):
- Please only send students to school who are in good health. Illness is not something we wish to share at SAS! Students must be fever free without medication for 24 hours before being permitted to return to school. Following this rule will help to keep the entire student body healthy and classrooms fully functional and effective.
Students are not allowed to self-administer medications! Please do not send students to school with medication, in their lunchboxes or otherwise, to help them make it through the day. Please communicate with Nurse Kerr about medication needs.
- If a student becomes sick at school, parents can expect contact from the school nurse. If an early dismissal is deemed necessary by the school nurse, parents are requested to pick up the child or send an approved emergency contact to do so in a timely manner.
Students sent to the nurse as a result of student complaint or teacher concern are evaluated with care by Nurse Kerr. She considers all symptoms when making dismissal decisions, and uses a thermometer that takes temperature by ear to determine fever status. Students dismissed early due to illness are prohibited from participating in extracurricular activities related to St. Ann's on the same day.
Please remind students to wash hands often, cover their mouths, and ask for help when they're not feeling their best. Thank you for helping our community to stay healthy!
Student Life Notes
Band Lessons on Tuesday 1/21!
The band students have missed two lessons this year (12/9 Holy Day of Obligation and 1/6 snow day). We have scheduled make-up lessons on Tuesday, 1/21, and Friday, 2/21, from 8am-11am. These lessons will meet by grade, rather than by group number. Please review the emailed schedule from Mrs. Wilson, and pack your instruments on Tuesday!
Catholic Schools Week - January 25-31, 2025
St. Ann School will celebrate Catholic Schools Week at the end of the month. After sharing a sneak peek of the activities and events designed to highlight and celebrate our mission of faith, academic excellence, and community service last week, we wish to hone in on a few items for careful attention.
Overview:
Saturday 1/25 & Sunday 1/26 - Celebrating Our Parish
Monday 1/27 - Celebrating Our Community
Tuesday 1/28 - Celebrating Our Students
Wednesday 1/29 - Celebrating our Nation
Thursday 1/30 - Celebrating Vocations
Friday 1/31 - Celebrating Faculty, Staff, & Volunteers
Saturday 2/1 - Celebrating Our Families
Day of Giving
Our 24-hour Day of Giving to St. Ann School begins at noon on Tuesday, January 28th. We hope to raise $25,000 for 2025!
This year we encourage you to ask your employer to match your gift - doubling your donation. We are also seeking donors who will match current gifts!
Visit https://www.thesaintannschool.org/dayofgiving2025 to make a lasting impact. St. Ann School is thankful for your continued support.
