Episcopal Day School

Newsletter

Saint Clement Episcopal School Parent Connection

January 2008
           
Dear Parents,

Every one made a wonderful transition back to school after enjoying the holidays.  It was such fun to watch the children as they re-connected with friends on the first day back.  So many of them seemed to have grown taller during the break! 

We’ve been very lucky with the weather this winter, or very unlucky, depending on your point of view!  The mild weather has allowed us to enjoy our playground much more than normal.  We’re still hoping that at least a little snow will come our way, so that we can enjoy that, too.  Please be sure that you are familiar with Saint Clement’s emergency policy in case the weather does become a factor in school closings or delays (found in your parent handbook, and on the back of this newsletter).  It’s always important to plan ahead in case of school closings; unfortunately, most offices don’t close when schools do, and it helps parents to have a back up plan for childcare.  

We said goodbye to Tammy LeValley and Miranda at our Christmas program.  They have happily settled into Virginia Beach, and Tammy reports that as much as she misses us, they are happy to be near the water again!  Lorna LeGrand has stepped quite capably into the School Administrator position, easily making the transition from “Floating Substitute”. 

If you have recommendation forms to be filled out for private schools, please be sure to include an addressed envelope, and a sticky note on the form with the due date for each form clearly marked.  We want to be sure that we give each form the time and attention needed, and have them arrive in at timely fashion at their destination.  There is no charge for the first two forms per child, and it is $25 per form after that.

Registration forms are now available in the office for the 2008-2009 school year.  We register returning students before we open our registration to the public.  We will accept returning student applications from Jan.28 until Feb. 4; community registration will begin on Feb. 12.   We would be delighted to have parent volunteers help us out on Open House—greeting prospective parents and showing them around the school.  Please let us know if you are available to help us out, from 9:15 to 11:45.  Thank you!

After our Christmas program, many parents asked for a chance to purchase the marvelous calendars created by our outstanding PTO chair, Shannon Mitchell.  Order forms for the calendars are in the office.  The calendars include all St. Clement pertinent dates, and are great for planning out the year ahead.   

We hope you enjoyed the Christmas program in the sanctuary.  The PTO suggested we try holding the program there to improve seating, and it seems to have been a great suggestion!   The staff is very grateful for the generous Christmas gift provided by the parents.  Your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated.  Thanks, also, to all the outstanding volunteers who helped with set-up and clean up for our program.  It’s quite a production getting all the children ready, everything set up and lovely, and then cleaning it up afterward.  Your help made all the difference!  A special thank you to Leslie Kalan for organizing our White House Ornament fund raiser, too.

The children were terrific participants in the Vision Screening.  All of the children participated cheerfully and were well prepared by their teachers to play the “Eye Game”. 

Please check the Lost and Found Basket in the office; it is overflowing with jackets, hats, and other items.  Again, we ask that you put your child’s name in their clothes, so that we can be sure that all items make it home again.

Just a reminder that the school health policy states that children must be healthy in order to attend to school.  Please keep your child home if he or she has heavy cold symptoms, a fever, sore throat, or vomiting.  Your child must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school.  Remember that not only will your child be unable to reap the benefits of his or her time in school if they are unwell, but they are more susceptible to other germs when their immune system is weaker.  It is every families’ responsibility to help keep our community healthy!
 
Weather Policy:
If the Alexandria City Schools are closed due to weather or an emergency, Saint Clement Episcopal School will be closed.  If the Alexandria City Schools close two hours early, we will close at 1 p.m.  If the City Schools have a delayed opening (one or two hours), we will do our best to open at 10 a.m.  Please confirm our status on bad weather or other emergency days by calling the school for information.  The school director will update the school’s voice mail message by 7 am.  We do not have snow make up days.
 
Upcoming Events
Jan. 22  Open House for Community
Jan. 21  No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan. 28  Interactive Story Teller Enrichment  Program
Jan. 28-Feb. 4 In-House Registration
Feb. 12  Community Registration begins
February 18  No School, President’s Day