As we transition from Thanksgiving to Advent, we move from gratitude to anticipation, preparing for Christ's birth by reflecting on hope, peace, joy, and love represented by the four candles.

Archbishop George Leo Thomas, Ph.D. and the Family of Faith of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas wish you an Advent Season filled with love and joy!

Advent is upon us and once again we feel that sense of preparation and excitement! Advent is a gift—a time and a season all to itself - the opportunity to prepare ourselves through our words, actions, and prayers.

Our Advent preparation is also filled with many key and familiar phrases: be vigilant, stay awake, get ready, and make straight the path - to name a few. It is also the time when we are asked to reflect on the season of Mary's 'yes;' Joseph's dream; and John's cries in the wilderness.

Hope is a central theme to the season of Advent and will remain apparent throughout these next weeks. It is the foundation of our beliefs as we wait for Jesus, the light of the world. During this time of light, waiting, and preparation, may we enter Advent with a God-sized expectancy that is at the core of our hearts. This week’s issue provides several resources to help us get started.

We wish each of you a wonderful journey to Bethlehem in these next weeks, a journey filled with hope, peace, joy, and love.

Blessings,

Mrs. Catherine Thompson, Superintendent

Mr. Kevin Kiefer, Assistant Superintendent

Monday, December 9, 2024

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

• Orchestra/Strings: 7:00-7:45 AM.
• School Mass at 9:30 AM. We will follow Wednesday's schedule today.
• Fourth Grade Field Trip: Mine Experience at McCaw School of Mines
• Angel Choir Practice: 3:30-4:30 PM.

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

• Band Practice: 7:00-7:45 AM.
• Cheer Practice: 3:15-4:30 PM.
• Band/Strings Practice: 3:15-4:30 PM.
• National Anthem Choir Practice: 3:30-4:30 PM.

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Terra Nova Test Results will be sent home today.

• Orchestra/Strings: 7:00-7:45 AM.
• There will be no School Mass today. We will follow Monday's schedule.
• Angel Choir Practice: 3:30-4:30 PM.

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in MPR @ 7 am

Penguin Holiday Shop is open for all students!

• Band Practice: 7:00-7:45 AM.
• Cheer Practice: 3:15-4:30 PM.
• Band/Strings Practice: 3:15-4:30 PM.

Friday, December 13, 2024

Penguin Holiday Shop - make-up shopping day.

• Prayer and Flag Ceremony @ 8:05 AM. ~ hosted by Mrs. Gross' 6th Grade Class.
• Pre-K Field Trip: The Las Vegas Farm
• Band/Strings Practice: 3:15-4:30 PM.

Our Life Skill for this week will focus on "Problem Solving: seek solutions in difficult situations." If you strive to be a Life Long Learner you will naturally become a problem solver. Maintain that attitude of always challenging yourself to learn new things and be open to new challenges. Facing challenges bring about some of the best growth.

The ability to problem solve is one of the most important life skills. Here are a few steps to help you: 1. Identify a problem. 2. Explore possible solution strategies. 3. Act on your strategies. 4. Look back and evaluate. Practice this skill often – you can do it!

*Calendar Update: Due to Staff Inservice, there will be No School on Friday, January 17.*

• December 18 Elementary Christmas Concert 6:00 PM in the Gym
• December 19 Band & Choir Christmas Concert 6:00 PM in the Gym
• December 20 After Care will not be available. Dismissal is at 12 PM.
• December 20 Desert Dogs Saints Knight @ Lee's Family Forum!
• December 23-January 3 Christmas Vacation

Each month Fourth Grade is selecting a charity project to give back to our community. In October,

Fourth Grade, along with their family's donations, made 100 hygiene kits, which included shampoo, body wash, lotion, combs, razors, toothbrushes and toothpaste. These kits are provided to those staying in the Catholic Charities Shelter.

In November, Fourth Grade partnered with the Serving Our Kids Foundation. Every week during the school year, Serving Our Kids provides weekend meal bags to 4,000 food-insecure children. The class gathered donations for items to be put into the bags. In the new year, they will volunteer assembling the weekend meal bags.

We are very proud of Fourth Grade helping to make a difference in our Saints community and beyond!

Each year, we joyfully welcome St. Nicholas to our school in honor of St. Nicholas Day. He visits each classroom, sharing the spirit of generosity by gifting students a chocolate coin and candy cane. This cherished tradition reminds us of the values of kindness and giving that St. Nicholas embodies.

Under the guidance of Mrs. Gross, our 8th graders put their knowledge of speed, distance, and time to the test with hands-on experiments. They did a great job being resourceful, creative and applying their skills in a variety of ways!

On December 14th our National Junior Honor Society and Student Council will participate in Wreaths Across America by visiting the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City. Our students will remember and honor our veterans by laying wreaths on the grave sites of our country’s fallen heroes. This meaningful service allows us to pay tribute to those who have bravely served.

We invite our school community to join us in supporting this cause by donating a wreath. Every contribution helps to honor and remember our heroes. Please click here for more information on how to donate. Thank you for your support!

This Advent season, we invite all Saints families to participate in our annual Angel Tree Program. Your generosity will help bring Christmas cheer to those in need. Select a tag from the tree located in the Parish Hall starting on November 23rd and fulfill a special wish. All gifts should be returned unwrapped by December 8th, with the tag attached.

Together, we can make this a season of giving and grace, reflecting the love of Christ throughout

our community. Thank you for your support!

If this is the first year your child is attending St. Anthony of Padua School, there is a one-time family fee of $525.00 billed to your incidental billing account. Our New Family Development Fee will be charged to new Saints families on October 1 and will be due by December 31, 2024. Families are able to make a one-time payment through your Family Portal or make smaller payments until the end of December. This fee is assessed to all new St. Anthony of Padua School families and provides the funding necessary for advertising, marketing and communications strategies, as well as equipping our school with additional resources to ensure an academically rigorous program within a state-of-the-art environment. Do not confuse this one-time Family fee of $525.00 with the annual Enrollment fee of $500.00 per student. Should you require an extension, please contact the School Office in order to accommodate your request. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

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Welcome to St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic School - Home of the Saints! The newest Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Las Vegas.

• ✉️ Email: principal@sapsaints.org
• 🌏 Website: sapsaints.org
• 📍 Location: 2300 Sunridge Heights Parkway, Henderson, NV, USA
• ☎️ Phone: 702-331-9050
• 🔵Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sfahdnv/

We at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic School are a faith-based learning community that supports the success of all students through academics, leadership, and service by fostering a nurturing environment with Christ-like virtues.